The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hasn't quite started as the Black Sticks Men would have liked and they are now delicately poised with games against Japan (tonight) and Malaysia (Wednesday) to come. Coming up against their former coach Colin Batch, the kiwis managed a 1-1 draw against Australia thanks to a Dominic Newman goal, but they were then touched up by India 3-0.

Australia and India currently sit in the top three along with Great Britain, so there's an opportunity for the Black Sticks to get back on track with wins over the two teams who join them in the bottom three. Here's all the Black Sticks related bits and bobs I could find via the wonderful interweb from Malaysia...

We ran around. It was hot. 🤢🤕

298 Likes, 3 Comments - Dominic Newman (@dominic_newman) on Instagram: "We ran around. It was hot. 🤢🤕"

Meet @ArunPanchia24, a Gujarati insurance agent who is set to lead the @BlackSticks against India | @JaspreetSSahni https://t.co/FwmHBMBRUT pic.twitter.com/JAwlbnmToW
— TheField (@thefield_in) April 30, 2017

Japan take on @BlackSticks tomorrow in the Sultan Azlan Shah! Here is how they have done so far 👇
Can they get a win tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/NNd3U7m61N
— FIH (@FIH_Hockey) May 1, 2017

Here's some other bits and bobs from the rest of the Azlan Shah Cup so far, as well as hockey funk from around the world...

🏑 @FaizalSaari scored @hockeymalaysia's only goal vs @Kookaburras yesterday at the @azlancup Faizal has a habit of scoring though👇#HWL2015 pic.twitter.com/vROuakWOoh
— FIH (@FIH_Hockey) May 1, 2017

This is why he's the best in the world, @JamieDwyer01 shredding like its nothing!! @FIH_Hockey pic.twitter.com/RaHYNtlall
— Kieran Ian Govers (@Wizza27) April 1, 2016