India thrashed by Oz in opening match of tour
PERTH: The Indian men’s hockey team was expected to put up at least a decent fight but was hammered 1-5 by Australia in the first Test of the five-match series here on Saturday.
The Australians controlled the tempo of the match from start to finish. The Indian team showed some sparks in the final quarter but it was too late by then.
Tom Wickham (20th, 38th minute) scored a brace, while Tim Brand (3rd), Joel Rintala (37th) and Flynn Ogilvie (57th) were the other goal-getters for the winners.India’s lone goal was scored by Gurjant Singh in the 47th minute.
The Kookaburras showed positive intent from the start and took the lead as early as the third minute through Brand, who shocked India early with brilliant individual skills from the left flank.
He received a long pass from the deep and outfooted Jarmanpreet Singh with his stick work and pushed the ball past veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
Australia continued to press hard on the Indian defence and secured their first penalty corner in the eighth minute but could not breach Sreejesh’s defence this time.
Sreejesh made a reflex save with his extended right leg to deny Joel Rintala.A minute later, an alert Sreejesh used his razor-sharp reflexes to again keep Rintala out of target from Australia’s second penalty corner. India secured their first penalty corner in the 10th minute but failed to utilise the chance. Soon, Jake Whetton’s reverse shot was parried away by Sreejesh.
Australia was at their attacking best as their moves outwitted the Indian defence.The home team increased its lead just five minutes into the second quarter through Wickham, courtesy some sloppy defending by the Indians.
Australia denied India to settle into a rhythm with their attacking hockey and relentless pressure to go into the halfway break with a 2-0 cushion.
The hosts continued in the same vein after the change of ends as Rintala was in the right place at the right time to get a neat deflection off Ky Willott’s reverse hit seven minutes into the third quarter.
The Indian defence was caught napping by the ever-attacking Australians as Wickham scored his second of the day with a fierce shot from the right corner past Sreejesh’s extended right foot.