1-5, 2-4 and 1-2.

The collection has been misplaced however as the ultimate scores of the three matches in opposition to Australia point out, the Indian males’s hockey group has proven gradual enchancment over three video games. From Australia operating riot within the opening recreation, to the house group incomes a hard-fought victory within the third, there’s positively progress.

But the progress is principally associated to India’s defence, which isn’t a shock contemplating Craig Fulton’s most popular model of hockey. However, for all their progress, India have misplaced all their matches to date and that is largely as a consequence of a failure of their attacking recreation.

India’s assault goes lacking once more

Before the match on Wednesday, it was clear that India’s defence would come below excessive strain – as a result of that is the one approach Australia play their hockey.

In the opening two quarters, India had their full give attention to quelling the attacking strikes of their opponents. Defenders Amit Rohidas and Jugraj Singh have been spot on with their tackles and interceptions. Hardik Singh was additionally overlaying his defenders with well-timed blocks and PR Sreejesh was at his trademark finest, saving as many as 4 penalty nook efforts within the first quarter. In truth, each the goalkeepers hardly made errors, with Krishan Pathak additionally producing a few sensible saves.

The defensive work fee of the group helped India keep within the match and so they finally took the lead, for under the second time within the collection, due to a strong drag-flick by Jugraj within the forty first minute. However, a couple of minutes later, Rohidas, who was having an excellent recreation till then, made a dreadful mistake on the again. He miscontrolled a move below no strain after which ended up fouling contained in the field. A penalty stroke was given and Jeremy Hayward made no mistake in changing the possibility. Eventually Australia took the lead after Hayward transformed a penalty nook alternative within the fourth quarter. Moments earlier than the aim, Sreejesh stood tall to disclaim a few drag-flick possibilities, however this time the ball was too excessive, and he could not get his physique up in time to dam the shot.

Mistakes are very a lot a part of the sport. Despite the error, Rohidas was considered one of India’s finest gamers on the pitch. Even together with his excellent type, Sreejesh was overwhelmed – a part of the sport, once more. The drawback on Wednesday and within the earlier match was that India’s assault by no means actually bought going.

It’s odd that India’s assault is in focus as a result of this group would not actually battle to attain. They have high quality forwards who’re fast in transitions and create possibilities aplenty – each when it comes to penalty corners and open play conditions. In this tour, India’s attackers have struggled loads. It’s clear that Fulton desires his group to play to the counter-attacking gameplan. Consequently, Australia are the perfect opponents for that gameplan contemplating their ultra-aggressive type leaves loads of area on turnovers. Whenever India had a superb counter-attacking state of affairs, the gamers have been both a contact sluggish in transferring the ball (which helped Australia to fall again) or have been responsible of committing foolish errors.

It was no totally different within the third match. Whenever India had the possibility for a fast turnover, they have been uncharacteristically sluggish and continuously misplaced the ball within the midfield. It was solely within the fourth quarter that India confirmed some sort of urgency within the attacking third, leading to a few possibilities for Dilpreet Singh and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay. Abhishek had his moments however not constantly sufficient and Vivek Sagar Prasad was, as soon as once more, not at his finest within the midfield. Only Mohammed Raheel confirmed a little bit of creativity with the ball, however he wants to enhance his remaining ball.

To their credit score although, India have been discovering targets from their drag-flickers – each Jugraj and Harmanpreet scored within the final couple of matches. But they are often efficient solely when the group creates alternatives for them. On Wednesday, Australia received 9 penalty corners to India’s two, out of which Jugraj scored the one.

There are nonetheless two extra matches left within the collection. In the bigger context, these explicit outcomes do not matter because the tour is getting used for Olympic preparation. Nevertheless, Fulton wants extra from his attacking unit within the subsequent two matches.

Remaining matches:

• April 12 (3 pm IST)

• April 13 (2 pm IST)