How Oz overcame the heat factor

Nilesh Bhattacharya

NEW DELHI: Preparation holds key to any success and that came true with the Australian hockey team who demolished India 8-0. The Kookaburras push for success here was scripted long ago, back home through a process dubbed the Beijing formula.

Ever since Jamie Dwyer and Co arrived here as the reigning champions of both the World Cup and Champions Trophy, they looked favourites to complete the hat-trick of titles. But instead of being complacent they took no stone unturned in order to tackle the punishing schedules of playing in hot and humid conditions. Their preparation back home, thus, involved a specially-designed strategy to overcome this hurdle: A heat chamber.

According to a team official, the Dwyers and others would jump in a room where the temperatures would be increased up to 38 degrees and humidity to over 80 per cent and stay there for five minutes. The players would either cycle or do some boxing practices or simply hits some balls with a hockey stick, the official added.