The Hindu : Aussies too good for Indians

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2003

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Aussies too good for Indians

By S. Thyagarajan

Australia's Dean Butler (centre) trying to get past Gagan Ajit Singh (left) and captain Dhanraj Pillay of India during their encounter in the tri-nation tournament at Perth on Thursday.

Australia 2 - India 0

Australia `A' 5 - Pakistan 3

Perth May 29. A critical evaluation is mandatory over the move to induct stars of yesteryear into the national team. Such an exercise is a must if the performance tonight against Australia, which scored once in each half to ensure a place in Sunday's final in the tri-nation hockey competition here, is anything to go by. India succumbed to the host purely on account of the inconsistent and ineffective frontline, in which even the youngsters such as Gagan Ajit Singh and Prabhjot Singh came in a poor light.

The assessment does not hail the display of the Aussies who missed quite a few chances but managed to strike twice, rather clumsily at that, to take full points. Where India was found wanting was finish.

Even the usually ebullient Dhanraj Pillay was unconvincing making the attack more pronounced in its ineptitude. The manner in which Prabhjot Singh and Gangan Ajit Singh frittered away openings, which, in any case, were not easy to create against the tough Aussie defence, was appalling.

The cynosure in the intermediate line was Bimal Lakra. Not once did he put the stick wrong, and a few of his interceptions were charming. Equally energetic were the left half, Ignace Tirkey and Jugraj Singh who worked like a beaver throughout. As always, Dilip Tirkey, was inspired. It took quite a while for the veteran Baljit Singh Saini to find his moorings and by the time he began tackling Australia was already a goal up.

Pacy and precise the Aussies were in full flow from the start. Even before India could comprehend what was shaping the goal fell from a scrimmage. Credited to Tristam Woodhouse, it raised a volley of protest from the Indians against the Pakistani umpire, Rana Liaquat.

An equaliser was there for the asking, or so it seemed, when Prabhjot Singh had none but goalkeeper Mark Hickman in front. All Prabhjot did was to let go a straight shot into the rival's pads from the top of the circle. Minutes later, a long cross by Saini put Gagan Ajit Singh in a perfect position but in attempting a spectacular shot he missed the angle, sent the ball cruising, yards away from the target.

The wave of Aussie attack prompted well by Jaime Dwyer and Troy Elder and carried forward by Nathan Eglington was resisted well by the defenders. The only penalty corner that India obtained in this half was also wasted with Dhillon driving out.

After the break, Australia struck again from a splendid effort by Woodhouse off a long pass from Brent Livermore. Goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan was caught on the wrong foot this time. For a brief period then, the Indians really held the edge, making sallies engendering some hope. Unison was still a far cry but Pillay and Gagan made inroads into the rival area. A penalty corner raised hopes, and a withering shot by Dilip Tirkey almost beat goalkeeper Mark Hickman but Aaron Hopkins made a brilliant goalline save.

Forcing the pace India still applied some pressure. A cross from Prabhjot put Dhanraj in and the latter's pass to Saini ended with a straight shot into the pads of the rival goalkeeper. In the closing minutes, an aerial ball from Jugraj caught the Aussie defence by surprise. Gagan managed to trap it inside the circle, juggled with the ball for a few seconds, then pushed it to the unmarked Prabhjot Singh who eventually failed to hit the boards.

The frequent shuffling by coach Rajinder Singh might have contributed to the haphazard work but he had little choice, pushed as he was to finding the right combination. At one point the frontline boasted of three veterans, Dhanraj, Dhillon, and Mukesh supported by Saini, in the attack but it made no impression on the rival defence at all.

When the teams met last at the Champions Trophy in Cologne, India won 3-2 against the same opponent.

Pakistan loses

Pakistan's move to experiment with a new goalkeeper Salman Akhtar proved a disaster with the Australia `A' netting three goals in no time forcing the management to bring back skipper Ahmed Alam. The `A' team led 4-2 at half time.

Andrew Smith (2), Steven Boyce, Lucas Judge scored for Australia, while Ghazanfar Ali hit in two penalty corners. In the second half, Lucas Judge scored again to hoist the fifth but Paksitan, which missed a penalty stroke when Mudassar Khan flicked it over, reduced the leeway through a goal by Shakeel Abassi. Played a torrid place, the match witnessed several bizarre tackles. Two Pakistani players, Shabir and Tariq Imran were given yellow cards, while Micheal Boyce received temporary marching orders in the first half.

Friday is a rest day.

PTI reports from New Delhi:

Sponsor withdraws support

The Indian hockey team, playing in a three-nation tournament in Perth, suffered an off-field blow today when Castrol withdrew its sponsorship as a cost-cutting measure.

The Indian Hockey Federation is now in talks with various corporates and is hopeful of roping in a sponsor soon.

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