After a sound start on Wednesday, we were expected to do well against the hosts Australia in our second match of the Challenge Cup in Canberra. But it was not to be. We conceded easy goals in the second half to end up losers at a 5-0 scoreline on Thursday.
Our 4-1 win over Malaysia should have pumped us. More so when the Malaysians today managed to defeat the Athens-bound South Africa 3-2 on Thursday. But we let the tempo slip out of our hands.
Michael MacCann scored the first goal in the 28th minute, and then after the lemon time Nathan Eglington and Andrew Smith scored a penalty corner goal each, while Grant Schubert and Travis Brooks made a solo effort each to enlarge the scoreline.
We had our chances in the first session against the seasoned Aussies but did not capitalise. Our defence that has withstood till then cracked up in the second session. We have come here to spot our weaknesses and to see how the youngsters in the team perform under pressure. It appears a lot of work is yet to be done.
I would not blame any single player or department for the defeat. It’s in my view the collective one.
This is my third visit to Australia as coach. The maiden visit in 2002 was an experimental one, as we were hard pressed then to evolve a new team in the aftermath of disastrous Kuala Lumpur World Cup. As captain, it was first trip for Dilip Tirkey as well. We did not fare well, had only mixed results to show in May 2002. We just finished second at both Adelaide and Melbourne 4-Nations. However, we learnt our lessons promptly.
India was a vastly improved side in the next tour that followed. We won four of the six tournaments last year and the seeds of successes were sown in that trip. Though we were unlucky to lose the final at Perth, conceding the winning goal a couple of second before the hooter, we had more than made up that loss at Sydney. India outplayed the hosts Australia for a fluent 5-3 win and with that the title at Sydney Olympic stadium.
Like in my first trip, Dilip Tirkey is again leading an experimental side this time. I consider this tour perhaps the most important of all my Australian visits. For, like the hosts, we are in the process of pruning our team for the Athens Olympics.
Australia has a set of 24 players who were being fielded in various tournaments. Shortly after these two 4-Nations, their coach Barry Dancer will have to select his 16. We are also in the same predicament. This tournament, where the same teams will play twice in separate 4-Nations, present ideal opportunity for the vital exercise.
A stick2hockey.com special