England, wanting to assert its rise in the forthcoming EuroNations Cup, and India, a nostalgic superpower with its brand new coach, played out a thrilling 3-Test Series last week, all in Birmingham.

It was India’s new Spanish coach Brasa’s first international assignment. He had categorically stated that the timing of the tour is not ideal, “I have just started introducing new things and boys need months to get used to them but as it was scheduled a long time back so we have no choice.”

Brasa’s long term plan also emphasises that India should start the rebuilding process by playing with the teams ranked close to their own 12th place. All the four teams, Spain, Holland, England and Belgium are in the top 10 of the FIH rankings with the first two perennially figuring in the upper four.

Moreover, the European national teams are all in the final preparatory phase for the Euro Hockey Nations Championships later this month and hence are very close to their peak form for the season.

Considering all this, India’s performance against England was quite encouraging.
After a scrappy display in the first test which they lost 1-3, the Indians matched the hosts in the next two games. In the first games the visitors were also hampered by the torrential rain. Most of the 10 penalty corners conceded were due to unforced errors in whitch the slippery conditions playing the part. Even in that tie India had more open chances than their opponents.

The second test was the proverbial game of two halves. After having been outplayed until the 30th minute of the first half and 0-2 down, there was an amazing metamorphosis. By the same stage of the second half, the Indians were leading by 4-2 (finally winning 4-3). More than the score line, it was the aesthetics which mesmerised everyone. The Asians displayed the vintage stuff: close control, dribbling and intricate moves.
In the series decider, the Indians continued with the excellent form of the last game and led 2-0 after the first 25 minute. The hosts asserted themselves thereafter and ran away with a 3-2 win. In this match, India were also on the receiving end of a few debatable umpiring decisions.

India missed the services of their skipper Sandeep Singh for all the three matches as he was down with flu and they had a different captain for each of the games.

Adrian D’Souza was wonderful under the bar. He was superb encountering field attempts as well as penalty corners. His positioning, reflexes, anticipation, rushing, aerial ball clearance and diving are all out of the top drawer. Not to mention his temperament. Arguably, India’s match of the series.

In the absence of Sandeep, Sardara Singh, who normally plays in the midfield, was manning the deep defence. He showed wonderful tackling and anticipation as well as distribution and was also not afraid to move up. He has attacking instincts and likes to dribble a player or two before passing the ball. Playing him as a sweeper is risky as on a few occasions he lost the ball when effectively the last defender. Sardara is more suited to the role of a midfielder. Experienced Vikram Pillay was Sardara’s partner in the deep defence and gave a good account of him with cool and sound display.

In the midfield, Prabodh Tirkey was the most outstanding. One moment he was seen defending deep in his territory and immediately afterwards, Prabodh was sending an excellent pass to a team mate in the opponent’s circle. The handsome right half Gurbaj Singh is also a good up and down player on the right flank. On the left side, Ajitesh Roy appeared good in attack but needs improvement in defence. Dhananjay Mahadhik was seen more in the role of a holding mid-fielder. With Sandeep Singh not playing, the Indian army soldier was also his side’s premier flicker on the penalty corners and netted a couple of goals with strong pushes. Experienced Arjun Hallapa also converted a penalty corner in an emphatic manner.

Up front, among the forwards, Gurwinder Chandi impressed all with his sublime skills and his goal in the second test was a classic. Experienced Rajpal also showed flashes of brilliance though he occasionally fumbled in front of the goal. Exactly the same can be said about the other old campaigner Prabhjot Singh, who was rested for the second match. Bimal Lakra also sparkled occasionally. However, from the old brigade, Hallapa and Tushar Khandekar were a bit subdued. Youngsters Hari Prasad and Sunil possess good stick work and appear to be fine prospects.

There was excellent atmosphere during all the matches at the University of Birmingham’s picturesque hockey ground with Indian expats, mostly Sardars, forming bulk of the crowd and fervently cheering their side. Then the young boys and girls of the bhangra group ‘Chak de Punjab’ entertained during the interval of each game.
The third test was played on Sunday and finished just after noon.

It was immediately followed by the match between the B.A.H.A. (British Asian Hockey Association) under 16 and England under 16, and another between their veteran sides.
B.A.H.A. has been recently formed by some Asian ex-internationals and former players to stem the continuing decline of hockey among the Asians in Britain.

Brasa has repeatedly said that he is not concerned with the results, “We are here only for learning”. It seems the learning process has begun as one could see many things not usually associated with the Indian style of play: Players were seen surging forward and back pedalling, positional flexibility, better use of rolling substitutions, man to man marking, effective rushing to block penalty corners, useful employing of long balls, among others.

There were areas of concern as well. The perennial problem of missing in front of the goal is still there. Then the penalty corners count was very much against India in all the ties. Many of them were due to unforced errors. In today’s game, surprise is of vital importance in offence. India need to employ a greater variety of patterns.
All in all there were gains for India and they should move on from here.

First round to Jose Brasa.

London based Journalist Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey and other sports. For more about him and samples of his published work, visit www.sportscorrespondent.info

Caption: Ijaz Chaudhry