PERTH, Oct 18: Australia will host an innovative international nine-a-side field hockey competition with bigger goals and shorter halves this week in an ambitious bid to revamp the sport.

Leading figures in the game have welcomed the radical rule changes which are being introduced for the International Super Series, commencing in Perth on Thursday.

Australia, India, Pakistan and New Zealand are due to take part in the men’s section of the four-day tournament, while Malaysia and India will join the host nation in the women’s event.

Teams have been reduced from 11 players to nine while the bench has been extended to 16 from 18. The goals, meanwhile, have been widened by one metre, or 50 percent, but their height remains the same.

The halves have been shortened from 35 minutes to 15 minutes.

Penalty corners have also been simplified and penalty strokes have been replaced with a “face-off” between player and goalkeeper.—AFP