India lost the first hockey test match to England 1-3 at the University of Birmingham yesterday. It was the first international engagement for the Spaniard Jose Brasa, chief coach, who made it clear that the tour is only for experimenting, not aimed for outright wins.
Robert “Ben” Hawes, Barry “bazza” Middleton and Richard Smith (68th min) scored a goal each for the hosts as England team took 1-0 lead in the 3-match test series.
Debutant Dhananjay Mahadik scored for India, latching off to a penalty corner.
Barry Middleton scored inthe 18th minute through field play after Ben Hawes put England in a commanding position in the first minute of the game itself. The third and the last England goal came from Richard Smith two minutes before the hooter, as he converted a penalty corner.
India will play two more Tests in England in its first leg of the four nation Europe tour.
England team is preparing for the forthcoming Euro Nation’s Cup, winner of which comes to Delhi for the World Cup.
The Indians are under a new coach (Jose Brasa) and this is first tour after he took over the senior Indian team after the disastrous Asia Cup.
Match proceedings in detail
The lone Indian goal came from Dhananjay Mahadik in the 8th minute from the first of five penalty corners.
After an opening ceremony that included the Lord Mayor of Birmingham meeting the two teams, England got off to a perfect start with a goal inside 60 seconds, although there was something slightly fortuitous about Ben Hawes’ effort going in off Ajitesh Roy’s stick.
Two minutes later England earned their first of ten penalty corners but Ashley Jackson’s effort was well charged down by the first runner Vikram Pillay.
India recovered and responded in kind, earning their first penalty corner six minutes later. The ball out from Gurwinder Chandi cleverly found its way to Dhananjay Mahadik courtesy of VS Vinaya’s dummy and the Indian armyman did brilliantly, flicking the ball powerfully across James Fair and inside the post to equalise.
England took the lead again in the 18th minute after setting the foundations from their fourth penalty corner. James Tindall shot powerfully from the top of the circle but after hitting the stick of first runner Pillay the ball went off the side deep in Indian territory. Barry Middleton seized the opportunity after the ball bobbled off Sandeep Singh’s stick and with goalkeeper Adrian D’souza struggling to readjust the England skipper swept home while lying prone on the ground.
The slippery conditions made things difficult for the players and as they looked to strike back India began to reassert themselves in the match. Unfortunately for the visitors a number of passes went astray with Indian forwards in good positions.
Into the second half and with the rain easing India missed the chance of the match thus far after enterprising work along the right baseline by Chandi found Prabodh Tirkey in space at the back post but he blazed the ball over.
India had another chance to restore parity six minutes into the second half when Fair saved a low and angular Sandeep Singh dragflick. India’s pressure nearly told soon after when a bobbling shot from Shivendra Singh hit the post with Fair beaten.
That proved to be the catalyst for a sustained period of England pressure which resulted in three penalty corners in quick succession, beginning in the 52nd minute. First, Richard Smith’s low flick was comfortably saved by Adrian D’souza before Ashley Jackson and Simon Mantell had efforts charged down.
India blew up another opportunity for the equaliser five minutes from the end when both Prabhjot Singh and Tushar Khandker failed to latch on to a Prabodh Tirkey set up inside the circle.
With the clock running down Richard Smith made sure of an English victory when he smashed home from beyond the penalty spot off a corner rebound in the 68th minute.
The second Test will be played on Friday night at the University of Birmingham.
England’s First Eleven
Jonty Clarke (Reading) Forward
James Fair (Cannock) Goalkeeper
Ben Hawes (Surbiton) Defender
Ashley Jackson (HGC) Midfielder
Glenn Kirkham (East Grinstead) Midfielder
Iain Mackay (Reading) Midfielder
Richard Mantell (Reading) Defender
Barry Middleton (HGC) Midfielder/Forward
Richard Smith (Loughborough Students) Defender
James Tindall (Surbiton) Forward
Ali Wilson (Beeston) Defender
Substitute
Ali Brogdon (Bowdon) Forward
Adam Dixon (Beeston) Defender/Midfielder
Martin Jones (Beeston) Forward
Simon Mantell (HGC) Forward
Rob Moore (Surbiton) Midfielder/Forward