Hockey: India and Australia settle first test on a draw

Indian skipper Sardar Singh was instrumental in both goals

The first match in the three-match test series between India and Australia today ended at in a draw at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. This match also marks Chhattisgarh’s first ever exposure to an international match, which was played at Rajnandgaon. The match which ended on an even score of 2-2 will be followed by two other matches on 22nd and 23rd November at the recently inaugurated Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

The world leaders Australia drew first blood through a field goal in the ninth minute of the first half from Dylan Wotherspoon. This resulted in the Indian forwards increasing the pace and was duly rewarded by a penalty corner. VR Raghunath made no mistakes thereafter to convert the penalty corner into a goal, levelling the score at an even 1-1 in the 28th minute. The first half came to an end with India and Australia levelled at 1-1.

The second half saw a sudden surge in the energy levels of the Indian attack, which resulted in another goal from VR Raghunath through a penalty corner in the 43rd minute. Top-ranked Australia pressed very hard on the Indian’s thereafter, but the Indian defence was in their element as they successfully blocked all the Australian attacks. However, a penalty corner in the 58th minute of the game to Australia spoiled India’s chances of registering an important win, as the visitors converted the penalty corner through Chris Ciriello to level scores at 2-2.

“It was an important match, and we were tested on all fronts. The good news is that we have shown composure and we played with the hunger to win. We will go back to reconstruct our strategy for the next match and hopefully we should see the results favouring us,” said Director High Performance and Chief Coach Indian Men Team, Roelant Oltmans.

Largely billed as a warm-up series before the all-important Hero Hockey World League Finals at Raipur from the 27th November till the 6th December 2015 the test series will give both the teams much needed match practice, test bench strength and try out strategies besides a first-hand use of the newly laid pitch at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

India plays Australia in the second of the three-match series on 22nd November 2015 at the newly inaugurated Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

The match will be telecasted LIVE & Exclusive on Star Sports.