India, Aug. 15 -- The Indian national men's hockey team has travelled to Perth on the Western Coast of Australia for a four-match series against the Kookaburras. The four games will take place between August 15 and August 21, and are a key touchstone ahead of India's crucial integral Asia Cup campaign at home later this month.

It has been an extremely tough year for the men's team, with the FIH Pro League campaign not going to plan. Harmanpreet Singh's men finished eighth in the nine-team league, just avoiding relegation, after losing 10 matches this year and only managing to win 6.

India have also dropped to number eight in the world rankings, a chastening experience after the high of the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last year. T...