Hockey: It's getting tougher at the top for players and selector

The in-form Simon Child - shown in action against Japan - will lead the Black Sticks' attack at the Commonwealth Games. Photo / Getty Images

A deepening talent pool made selection of the Commonwealth Games hockey team difficult for national men's coach Colin Batch.

But he's not complaining - Batch sees that as a healthy problem.

The 16 named yesterday provided good news for returning pair Bradley Shaw and Shay Neal, in Neal's case after a lengthy layoff to recover from hip surgery last November.

The downside was the omission of four players who were in the recent World Cup squad.

Auckland's Devon Manchester got the one goalkeeping spot ahead of Hamish McGregor, and Steven Jenness, Jared Panchia and Kane Russell missed in the outfield selections.

"We're getting more depth in our squad therefore selection is becoming critical," Batch said. "The bar keeps getting higher as the players' performances get higher."

Northlander Neal is in after a solid effort at last year's world league 3 tournament, and Shaw got the nod through, among other skills, his ability to perform well under pressure.

"I'm now just enjoying hockey again, being back with the boys and being able to play pain-free," law graduate Neal said.

The Black Sticks' attack will be led by in-form Simon Child, scorer of two spectacular goals at the World Cup.

"We've now got a really focused and very fit player," Batch said of the Auckland attacker.

"He's got great elimination skills and can certainly score a goal."

New Zealand are ranked No 6, but third in the Commonwealth behind world No 1 Australia and No 5 England. They won the bronze medal in New Delhi four years ago.

A couple of warmup games against Wales and India have been pencilled in before pool play, in which they face Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, England and Malaysia.

Australia would seem to have a lock on one spot in the final, but Child has no doubt the Black Sticks can have a big say in the final outcome.

"If we can avoid Australia until the final then I think we've got a huge opportunity to win."

The Black Sticks leave for Glasgow on July 16.

Yesterday's announcement completed the naming of the New Zealand games team. The final number of athletes is 233, with the late addition of national criterium champion Mike Northey to the road cycling team.

Off to Glasgow

New Zealand men's team for the Commonwealth Games:

Goalkeeper: Devon Manchester (Auckland)

Defenders: Dean Couzins (c, Auckland), Andy Hayward (Midlands), Bradley Shaw (Canterbury), Blair Tarrant (Southern), Alex Shaw (Capital).

Midfielders: Nick Haig (Canterbury), Phil Burrows (Capital), Shay Neal (Northland), Arun Panchia (Auckland), Shea McAleese (Central), Steve Edwards (North Harbour).

Strikers: Marcus Child, Simon Child (Auckland), Hugo Inglis (Southern), Blair Hilton (Capital).