Ones to watch: England.

The hosts will be aiming to put on a good show in front of a home crowd in London. With memories of Great Britain’s success at the London Olympics in 2012 still vivid, England will be raring to go to show their home fans what they can do. A tilt at both men’s and women’s titles should be on the cards, but who are the players who could steer them to glory? We pick some out to keep an eye on.  

Alex Danson:
Danson is the leading goal scorer in England’s current squad with 84 goals for England and Great Britain combined and 47 strikes for England. A superb exponent of the backhand shot, Danson’s all-action style makes her the darling of the English fans and a player all teams fear. Speedy, excellent 3D skills, an eye for goal and the bravery to face off against the toughest and most physical defenders, the No15 deserves her place as being ranked amongst the best. She will feed off the support of a home crowd this summer and will surely spearhead England’s efforts to go one better than 2013 to capture the gold medal.

Ashley Jackson. 
Jackson just gets better and better. The 2009 FIH World Young Player of the Year has matured into one of the best players around. Nominated in this year’s FIH World Player of the Year category, Jackson is now England and Great Britain’s combined top scorer with 120 international goals. The Holcombe man enjoyed a fine Hockey India League, captaining the Ranchi Rays to the title, winning the player of the tournament award and the top scorer award. Goals aren’t all Jackson has, however. His ability to beat a man, his vision, passing and link up with his teammates are second to none. He is a real stand out performer for his side and deserves his recognition as one of the best around.

Barry Middleton. 
The heartbeat of the side, GB captain Middleton has over 350 caps combined for England and GB. He is the squad’s most capped
player and veteran of three Olympics. He made his debut as a 19-year-old back in 2003 and is closing in on a century of England
and GB goals. He has been named no fewer than three times in the FIH All Stars team, in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and his drive and
consistency rub off on the players around him. He captained his side to glory in the 2009 European Championships in Amstelveen and will be dreaming of similar success again this year.

Iain Lewers.
Since his debut in May 2011, Belfast boy Lewers has firmly established himself as a key part of England & GB’s defensive line, steadfast under pressure but with an eye for the counterattack. At club level Iain played at Annadale in Northern Ireland throughout his school and university years before moving to HGC in the Netherlands for three years where he played under the former Netherlands head coach, Paul van Ass. Lewers has shown his class time and again and will be a huge part of England’s efforts to claim the title.

Kate Richardson-Walsh.
England and GB Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh made her international debut last century (!) and she has made over 330 appearances for her country, captaining the side since 2003, with London 2012 her third Olympics. Shortlisted for the FIH World Player of the Year Award in 2003, Kate was GB Hockey’s Athlete of the Year in 2007 and has twice won the prestigious Hockey Writers’ Player of the Year, in 2003 and 2007. Her will of iron, evidenced when she returned during the 2012 Olympics after a terrible injury which meant she had to have a metal plate inserted in her jaw, means this team will follow her to the ends of the earth.

Susannah Townsend.
Townsend is a fierce competitor. She made her international debut back in 2008 and was part of the central squad in the lead up to the London Olympics. The Canterbury player missed out on selection but since the London games she has become an integral part of the England and Great Britain squads. Quick and powerful, the No9 has turned heads with her lung-bursting runs from midfield and her ability to break the line when in possession. After a superb year in 2014, the 26-year-old was named Hockey Writers’ Club Women’s Player of the Year. Townsend has already passed the 50-cap mark and seems set to play her part in England’s drive towards glory.