Water water everywhere, not for the Indians!
Indian coaching staff yesterday found to their dismay the pitch is not sufficiently watered before the start of the South Africa match.
They wanted watering. The Technical table turned down.
National chief coach Jose Brasa later explained the event in his characteristic style, “Indian pitch, Indian water, Indians did not water!”
He was of the view that two penalty corners that India wasted due to their inability to stop the pushed ball at the Coastal Guard end of the main pitch, was due to lack of adequate water on the pitch.
Whether it was due to water problem or lack of co-ordination between the pusher and stopper is another issue.
The issue is, can the technical table turn down watering request by teams?
Our officials are always there to deny you something, refuse you something and nobody was amused when they said no to team in this small matter.
Host countries in cricket have the right to choose the pitch of their choice. Here in hockey even watering, genuine or contrived, is a thing some officials have to decide!
In hockey, since synthetic surface surfaced the turf condition is universally same, though coaches have the habit of finding fault with that also – bumpy rumpy type of stuff.
One thing that prompted the idea of hockey having synthetic turf is to avoid nature’s vagaries.
For example, if it had rained yesterday before the match, what would have happened? The turf would have been flooded with water, still the match would have played.
Champions Trophy final in 2005 was resumed after 30 minutes of heavy down pour.
When things are like this, and when the turf has the drainage system, why to say no to a team’s request.
Saying is no is not a virtue, bad distaste thing.