News 04 August 2014
All the news for Monday 4 August 2014
Kookaburras’ golden glory
Ciriello hat-trick helps Australian men to Commonwealth Games gold medal
A third consecutive cup final hat-trick from Chris Ciriello helped the Australian men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, to a fifth Commonwealth Games title, maintaining their record as the only team ever to win the gold medal at Games.
Six weeks after his hat-trick helped Australia to a 6-1 win over the Netherlands in the World Cup Final, the 28 year-old’s treble laid the foundation for a 4-0 win over India in Glasgow.
Tasmanian Eddie Ockenden followed up with Australia’s fourth goal to make certain of the result after unselfish build-up play by Kieran Govers.
The result sent the Aussie men to the top step of the podium less than 24 hours after their female counterparts stood atop the rostrum following a dramatic shoot-out win over England.
Ciriello broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, after Jake Whetton had already gone close on the back post. The Victorian defender’s powerful flick split defender and goalkeeper on the line to give Australia a deserved lead.
Perth-born Trent Mitton saw his shot deflected over the top before, at the other end, Kieran Govers showed good composure to bat the ball away on the goal line from India’s only penalty corner of the game.
Ciriello doubled his and Australia’s tally six minutes before the break from another corner, this time going to the other side – the goalkeeper’s right – to put the Aussies in control.
It might have been more with Whetton, Aran Zalewski and Simon Orchard all going close before half time.
Ciriello completed his hat-trick with a powerful top corner flick 13 minutes after the restart and just four minutes later Eddie Ockenden slid in at the back post to complete the scoring from Kieran Govers’ unselfish pass across goal.
Three hours after picking up his third Commonwealth Games gold medal, Australian captain Mark Knowles was named as Australia’s flag bearer at the Games closing ceremony.
Knowles' fellow Rockhampton product, Matt Gohdes, made his 100th appearance in the match.
Australia (m) v India
Men’s Final
Commonwealth Games
AUSTRALIA 4 (2)
Chris Ciriello 13, 29, 48 (PC, PC , PC)
Eddie Ockenden 51 (FG)
INDIA 0 (0)
-
Australia v India
Name (Hometown) Caps/Goals
Starting XI
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 34/7
Kiel Brown (Toowoomba, WA) 151/4
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT) 76/0
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 99/52
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 245/20
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 62/19
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 221/56
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 156/49
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 21/1
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 113/5
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 43/4
Used Substitutes
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 146/94
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 100/30
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 191/14
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 68/30
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 35/3
Hockey Australia media release
Knowles carries flag
Australian captain named Team Australia's closing ceremony flag bearer
Australian men's captain Mark Knowles completes a memorable couple of weeks after being named as Team Australia's flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
The 30 year-old Queenslander was told the news just a matter of hours after stepping onto the top step of the podium with his 15 teammates as they received their Games gold medals in Glasgow.
"I am hugely honoured," he said.
"It's great recognition of what we have been able to achieve as a team but also myself over the last three Commonwealth Games.
"This is the perfect end to a Games campaign."
"We've had a huge few months for the Kookaburras so this is a nice thank you gift," said Knowles, a 245-international game veteran.
From Hockey Australia and on behalf of everyone involved in hockey in Australia we congratulate Mark on this tremendous accolade.
Hockey Australia media release
Kate Richardson-Walsh is Team England Flag Bearer
England women's Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh will carry the flag for Team England at tonight's closing ceremony at the Commonwealth Games.
Richardson-Walsh, who last night won a Silver medal with her team, said: "I'm emotional, as always. It's such an honour, particularly because the whole of Team England has performed so well, it adds an extra bit of pride. I'm just really excited and hoping that I don't trip over!"
Team England chef de mission Jan Paterson added: "Kate has brought home four medals from four Commonwealth Games, she is a fantastic role model for the team and it was a team vote that decided she would be the flagbearer."
England Hockey Board Media release
Aussie men retain hockey title once more
Chris Ciriello. Getty Images
Australia ensured their 100 percent men's hockey record at the Commonwealth Games continued as they thrashed India 4-0 to claim a fifth successive gold medal in Glasgow on Sunday.
Chris Ciriello struck twice in the first-half from penalty corners to give the Aussies a commanding lead at the break.
Ciriello then completed his hat-trick from another penalty corner early in the second period and Eddie Ockenden rounded off the scoring for the world champions from close range 20 minutes from time.
"They're a really good team, they have the skills and are very fast. We were working hard in that game and I was lucky enough to bag a couple from the corners," said hat-trick hero Ciriello, who insisted he could still work on his penalty corner technique.
"I started when I was 11 and finally I'm 28 and feel like I'm getting it. Obviously there's still a lot I can improve and practise," he added.
Both sides, along with bronze medallists England, then received their medals in farcical circumstances among a wind and rain storm at the uncovered Glasgow Green Hockey Centre.
However, that didn't dampen the spirits of Australia coach Graham Reid as his side backed up their World Cup win in June with another tournament victory.
"Now we understand what people were saying about the weather," he said.
"We've got four or five new players since the World Cup, so it's great for them."
"Considering the limited preparation we had it's a very good effort from the boys and also shows the depth we have in the squad."
India coach Terry Walsh, meanwhile, had to admit that his side had simply been beaten by the better team.
"We were just outplayed. As the game went on we looked drained of energy to contest the result. We have to give credit to them."
Earlier, England claimed the bronze courtesy of a 4-2 win in a penalty shootout over New Zealand after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Ashley Jackson was England's star man as he scored twice in normal time before sealing victory in the shootout from the penalty spot.
It is the first time since the inaugural hockey event at the Commonwealths in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 that England have won a medal in the men's hockey.
"I'm happy the guys got rewarded with a bronze medal this time because we have finished fourth too many times," said England coach Bobby Crutchley.
"It's been a fantastic experience, I'm amazed with the amount of English people who made the trip to come see us play. We play in great stadiums but here it was just amazing."
Supersport
Bridge too far
By Dil Bahra in Glasgow
India's Ramandeep Singh challenges Australia's Fergus Kavanagh during the Gold Medal match at Commonwealth Games Glasgow. Photo: Ady Kerry
Australian captain and penalty corner specialist, Chris Ciriello, scored a hat trick of penalty corners to lead Australia to a 4 – 0 win over India and win the Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
It was in material whether India could win this tie. What mattered was their performance. On this account, India failed. “Very poor defensingly and casual passing hurt us” said Indian Coach, Terry Walsh.
Australia started the match strongly and pinned India in their own half in the opening ten minutes. India’s first attack at goal, Ramandeep Singh’s pass to Chandanda Nikkin nearly gave India the lead but his shot was wide of goal. Australia attacked from their circle and gained their first penalty corner in the 13th minute. Skipper Chris Ciriello gave his side the lead with a firmly stuck penalty corner. Gurbaj Singh made a good run into the Austrian circle but the finishing was poor. A minute later, India were awarded their first penalty corner. Raghunath’s shot at goal was saved on line. In the 29th minute, India were penalized for a deliberate stick tackle outside the circle. Chris Ciriello made no mistake with the resulted penalty corner to give his team a 2 – 0 lead at half time.
Thirteeen minutes after the interval, Chris Ciriello scored his hat trick when he pushed the ball to the roof of the net with his fourth penalty corner. Three minutes later, Austrilia’s Eddie Ockenden made it 4 – 0 to Australia when he picked up a loose ball in the circle which India failed to clear.
Ten minutes from the end, Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Chandananda had opportunity to score but the finishing was less than convincing.
Australia maintained their 4 – 0 lead to the end to win the Gold.
The difference between the two teams was the clinical finishing of the Australians and the right choices when it mattered. India’s decision making at the final ball was on occasions poor.
“We did not have enough energy as we would have liked” said Indian Coach Terry Walsh.
“We made some silly mistakes that can be avoided. No doubt Australia is a powerful team, No. 1 in the world. We will analysis our performance. We have ten days break and then three weeks camp before the Asian Cup” said Indian skipper, Sardar Singh.
India had many positives at this tournament. One of the main was not conceding a goal in the last ten minutes (except in the match against Scotland which they were leading 6 – 1) which has been a major issue for the past few years.
www.sikhsinhockey.com
Australia breaks Indian hearts again
A. Vinod
Australia's Kieran Govers, left, and India's Manpreet Singh challenge for the ball.
It ended on expected lines, with an Indian heart-break though. With the dominance that it displayed right through, Australia was a deserving winner of the men’s hockey gold medal for a fifth consecutive time on the concluding day at the Glasgow hockey centre here on Sunday.
With rain pouring down all along, the Indians could hardly get their act together against the World champions. They never had the chance to rival the mastery of the Australians as Chris Cirello’s brilliant hat-trick put his side on top of the podium.
India's Sardar Singh hits the ball during the gold medal hockey match between India and Australia. Photo: AP
The Australians, who held the upper hand right from the start, got into the lead when Cirello drag-flicked the first goal in the 13th-minute. He then consolidated their position 16 minutes later off another penalty corner.
Ten minutes into the second-half, Cirello converted another penalty corner, his shot rifling into the top corner. Cirello, with nine goals, emerged the joint top scorer of the tournament along with Ashley Jackson (England).
Australia put the game to bed with 20 minutes left for the final whistle when Eddie Ockenden dived to deflect in a Kieran Govers’ pass.
Australia's Trent Mitton ,left, and India's Birendra Lakra challenge for the ball. Photo: AP
India might have escaped the 8-0 drubbing that it suffered in New Delhi four years ago, but what stood out was the failure of its players to test the Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter even once. And there ended the tale in which one had nothing to write back home about.
Indian coach, Terry Walsh, seemed upset: “We were just out-played, as the game went on. We were drained out of energy to contest the result. We have to give credit to them (Australia). It’s been a very hard tournament for both teams, playing two games in a row was very tough,” he said.
The Hindu
Sense of deja vu: Australia rout India 4-0 to take gold in men's hockey, again
V Krishnaswamy
The Indians once again ran into the Australian wall and lost 0-4 as the latter won their fifth successive Commonwealth Games hockey gold on Sunday. Two goals in each half sealed the fate of the Indians who had earlier lost 2-4 to the Australians in league stage.
It was Australia's second straight win in a Commonwealth Games gold medal match over India. Four years ago, however, it was an 8-0 rout. In the World Cup earlier in June, India lost 0-4 to the Australians in the group stage.
The heavy downpour during the match left the field somewhat tricky and Indians never had a chance.
Chris Ciriello scored his first penalty corner and he shot a low and hard one to the bottom left-hand corner of Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. Seven minutes later, Ciriello converted a second penalty corner with a low shot to the right of Sreejesh this time. His third goal, which came in the second half was strike into the top corner. Completing the tally was Eddie Ockenden, who was unmarked in the striking circle.
The win completed a third straight men's and women's hockey double for Australia at the Commonwealth Games. It was also Ciriello's second hat-trick in a second major final after a similar effort in the World Cup final in The Hague, where Australia outplayed the Netherlands 6-1.
Indian chief coach Terry Walsh made no excuses and said, "We were outplayed as the game went on. We were drained and we have to give them credit for the win. "It's been a hard tournament for both teams, playing two matches in two days in a row, it was tough. We created a couple of opportunities but were not able to score," he added.
India's leading scorer in the tournament, Rupinderpal Singh admitted as much and alluded to the wet and windy weather, saying, "Australia played really well. We can't say the weather affected us."
He added, "As a team we played well in the group matches, but our task was tough in the final. We played against the world's best team. We wanted to push them and give them a good game. But there's always a next time."
The Indians, who came back from a 0-2 deficit in the semifinals against New Zealand, were unable to produce the same magic on Sunday, when the entire focus was more on two officials having been arrested the previous night. The players said they were not aware of anything else off the field and just as well, for this would only have added pressure on them.
The Australians handled the Indian attack and pressure very well in the first 10-odd minutes. Ciriello, as he has done so often for Australia, broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when he scored off a penalty corner.
The Australians earned another penalty corner seven minutes later, but the Indians saved it.
India missed a chance to equalize in the 24th minute when VR Raghunath's shot failed to sound the board as Australia goalkeeper Kieran Govers was in perfect position to save the shot. But Ciriello added his second goal of the final -- and the eighth of the Games -- converting the team's third penalty corner seven minutes from half-time.
Twelve minutes into the second half, a foul by Raghunath gave the Australians another penalty corner, and Ciriello made no mistake to make it 3-0.
Australian coach Graham Reid, who took over from Ric Charlesworth after the Word Cup, said, "Considering the limited preparation we had it's a very good effort from the boys. We've got four or five new players since the World Cup. It's great for them."
England wins bronze in shootout
England got their revenge on New Zealand, winning the bronze-medal playoff in a penalty shootout. In the league stage, New Zealand beat England 2-1 and four years ago, the Kiwis had edged out English in New Delhi for the bronze. After finishing the regulation period tied at 3-3, England won the shootout 4-2.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Australia men's team won their fifth successive Commonwealth Games hockey gold
The win completed a third straight men's and women's hockey double for Australia at the Commonwealth Games
QUOTE
We were outplayed as the game went on. We were drained and we have to give them credit for the win. It's been a hard tournament for both teams, playing two matches in two days in a row, it was tough
--Terry Walsh, India's chief coach
DNA
Against Australia in final, it’s the same old story for India
Rohit Mahajan
The Australians were head and shoudlers above India in the gold medal match in Glasgow on Sunday. PTI
Glasgow - Chris Ciriello is called the Big Dog or the Italian Stallion by his teammates, but he has a strong Indian connection. Chris's grandfather Rudolf Pacheco played hockey for India before moving to Australia, where he became a hockey coach. Ciriello's mother was born in Kolkata — his parents met when his father was coached by Pacheco.
Ciriello did India in today. He slammed in a hat-trick of penalty-corner goals as Australia beat India 4-0 in the men's hockey final, which was played in fast-changing, blow-hot, blow-cold weather conditions.
It was the mother and father of all rains at the end. As the gold medal match between India and Australia neared its end, a massive downpour struck Glasgow.
Four years ago in New Delhi, a goal-wave had hit India in the final, when Australia beat India 8-0. This time the heavens opened up and the Australians didn't rain as many goals, but their superiority over India was absolute. The final 4-0 scoreline suitably reflected the way the match went. By the time the medals ceremony was over, the players and the shivering media were drenched right to their bones as the famous Scottish rain hit Glasgow the hardest on the last day of the event.
This was Australia's fifth successive gold medal in the CWG from the time the sport was included in the programme in 1998 — they remain untouchable.
The Indians were not really able to challenge the Australians — the Aussie defence was very tight. They did not allow any coordinated attack from the Indians to become too dangerous or to fructify. The only time the Indians had a remote chance to score was when they earned their only penalty corner in the 24th minute — V Raghunath's powerful shot was deflected away by the man at the post, Kieran Govers. The younger of the Indians like Ramandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh, who had impressed until now, seemed to be overawed by the opposition; in any case, they played at a lower level than they had so far. Indian captain Sardar Singh, who came back after a one-match suspension that kept him out of yesterday's semifinal, could not alter India's fortunes.
Critics might fault India for the tame defeat, but the fact is that Australia were vastly superior — even in the absence of at least five first-choice players who were in the team in the recent World Cup. “There was a change of eight guys coming into this from the World Cup and some young guys that really spurred the team on,” Ciriello said later. “A few of us were pretty excited after the World Cup in Holland. They pushed and carried the team as much as the older guys.”
Perhaps India could be consoled by the fact that three of the four goals came through penalty-corners, and that there was only one field goal, though goalkeeper Sreejesh had to make several saves.
“We made silly mistakes in defence, due to which they were able to earn the penalty corners,” Sardar Singh later told The Tribune. “They really didn't have to work hard to earn the penalty corners, and then our penalty corner defence wasn't good today.”
“We didn't have great energy in the first 10-15 minutes of the match,” he said. “In our group match against Australia, after being 0-2 down, we did well to come back. But today, I think we were not aggressive enough at the start. Australia are world No. 1 and we've learnt a lot from them.” “We'll analyse our performance in the tournament, look at what we did right and wrong, and try to fix our game,” he added.
“We think this was our strongest team,” Australian star Eddie Ockenden later told The Tribune. “The young guys were brilliant — we came here to win.”
“We set out to suffocate India and I think we were able to do that,” he said. “A good defensive display, I think.” Ciriello was Australia's second-string drag-flicker when they smashed India 8-0 in New Delhi four years ago — he had slotted in one, while senior drag-flicker Luke Doerner had got two.
This time around, it was a changed Aussie team.
India have improved, and India did better this time around — but Australia are unbeatable.
The Tribune
Ciriello shoots Australia to Commonwealth title
Former Bloemendaal man Chris Ciriello's hat trick powered Australia to a fifth successive Commonwealth Games title as the world champions were too took for India in Glasgow this afternoon, winning 4-0.
It was a repeat of the 2010 final in Delhi when Australia won 8-0 and they remain the only country to win the competition since it was introduced in 1998.
Ciriello started the scoring in the 12th minute and added a second 15 minutes later before completing his hat trick. Eddie Ockenden completed the scoring with 20 minutes to go.
England won the bronze medal when they beat New Zealand on penalties after normal time had ended 3-3. East Grinstead's Ashley Jackson scored twice with former Waterloo Duck Ali Brogdon also on the mark for England, countered by a Simon Child double and an effort by Hugo Inglis.
George Pinner - who moves from Beeston to Holcombe for next season - made a key save in the shout-out from Blair Hilton before Jackson shot the winning penalty. It was England's second bronze medal in the competition since it was introduced to the Commonwealth Games in 1998.
Australia also won the women's title, firing a last minute equaliser before winning on penalties against England.
Euro Hockey League media release
India men's hockey team loses to Australia, settles for silver
GLASGOW: India's quest for a Commonwealth Games hockey gold remained unfulfilled as they went down tamely 0-4 to title holders and world champions Australia in the final at the National Hockey Centre on Sunday.
Even though the two teams are class apart, it was an ideal opportunity for eight-time Olympic champions India to avenge their 0-8 thrashing at the hands of mighty Australia in the 2010 edition of the Games in New Delhi.
But it was not to be as Australia produced a clinical performance and completely dominated the match by scoring two goals in each half to secure their fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games title since the introduction of hockey in the quadrennial event in 1998.
Chris Ciriello (13th minute, 29th, 48th) slammed a hat-trick for Australia, while Eddie Ockenden (51st) scored the final goal of the match from a field effort.
Starting as underdogs, there was nothing to lose for the Indian team in the gold medal match against a formidable opponent like Australia, who beat them 4-2 in the group stages.
But the Sardar Singh-led side failed to live up to the tall ask as the Aussies controlled the match from start to finish.
The Indians showed glimpses of brilliance with some bright moves but the Aussie defence was too hard to break.
As expected Australia took the lead in the 13th minute when Ciriello struck from their first penalty corner.
The Aussies continued their dominance and earned another penalty corner in the 20th minute but with Ciriello out of the turf they failed to convert the chance.
Soon India earned their first and only penalty corner of the match but Kieron Govers made a goalline save to deny V R Raghunath.
Australia continued to put pressure on the Indian defence by mounting persistent attacks which resulted in their third penalty corner and Ciriello once again stepped up to convert the opportunity to double his side's lead.
Trailing by just two goals, the Indians were expected to put up a fightback after the change of ends but it was not to be.
The script was the same in the second half as Australia continued their dominance while India's attacks were few and far between.
Australia extended their lead when Ciriello scored his third goal of the day by converting another penalty corner in 48th minute.
Three minutes later, Ockenden virtually sealed the gold medal for Australia by tapping in from close range as an onrushing Indian P R Sreejesh failed to make the save.
While Australia and India won the gold and silver respectively, England claimed the bronze medal.
England beat New Zealand 4-2 in penalty shootout to win bronze after both the teams were locked 3-3 at the end of regulation 70 minutes
Incidentally, the bronze is England's first medal in the hockey event at the Commonwealth Games.
The Times of India
We conceded penalty corners due to silly mistakes: Sardar
GLASGOW: Captain Sardar Singh said that his side conceded penalty corners through silly mistakes and that has cost the final for India which they lost 0-4 to Australia in men's hockey gold medal match of the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
Sardar said that because of the three goals Australia scored through penalty corner conversions, the world champions need not do much.
"Overall, the team has done well in the tournament. We won a silver and it is always tough against Australia, the best team in the world. So, the team should feel satisfied with the silver," Sardar said after the final match at Glasgow National Hockey Center which was played under heavy downpour.
"But today, our defence was not that good as compared to the earlier matches. We also conceded penalty corners through silly mistakes and we paid the prize for that. The Austrlians were left with not hard work to do as they got the goals through penalty corners," rued Sardar, who came back in the final match after, being suspended from playing in the semi-finals.
He also said that the team made the mistake of not playing aggressively in the initial stages of the match.
"The team played very well against Australia in the pool match and we came back from 0-2 down. But that aggression was lacking in the initial stages of the final match today. We did not play aggressively in the first 10-15 minutes of the match," he added.
Sardar said the team will learn from its mistakes and hope to do better in the Asian Games.
"Many of the players are young and they must have learnt the lessons from this tournament. We will assess our mistakes here and try to improve upon them and do better in the Asian Games," Sardar signed off.
The Times of India
England men win Commonwealth bronze
Nick Catlin celebrates scoring in the shoot-out against New Zealand at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - photo by Ady Kerry
England's men beat New Zealand to claim Commonwealth Games hockey bronze in a match played in monsoon conditions at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
England's men beat New Zealand to claim Commonwealth Games hockey bronze in a match played in monsoon conditions at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Simon Child gave New Zealand the lead with a classy finish while England saw both Iain Lewers and Ashley Jackson sin-binned.
The match turned before the break, when Alastair Brogdon and Jackson gave England the advantage before Andy Hayward levelled at 2-2 with a penalty corner.
Jackson's second penalty corner put England within sight of victory but New Zealand's star man Childs responded to force the shoot-out with his second goal.
New Zealand's Blair Hilton and Simon Child failed to beat England keeper George Pinner with their efforts while Jackson, Nick Catlin and Barry Middleton all kept their nerve to take England's tally to three.
The score was poised at 3-2 and when Simon Mantell was judged to have been fouled by Devon Manchester, the Blacksticks keeper, Jackson stepped up to convert to fire a decisive penalty stroke, which keeps him poised to finish the tournament's leading the scorer.
The bronze medal also ends a run of fourth-placed finishes at the last Commonwealth Games, the Olympic Games and the recent World Cup.
England Men's Head Coach Bobby Crutchley said after the game: "Finishing fourth is a horrible thing and I couldn't be happier for the players that they've got something to show for all the hard work. It was a great advert for hockey and our guys have run their legs off for that result.
"The team has improved so much in the last couple of years and now we've got something tangible to show for it and that's really exciting for the future."
England Captain Barry Middleton added: "I'm not going to wipe the smile off my face for a little while. We wanted to be in the final but it doesn't take anything away from leaving here with a Commonwealth medal.
"After the semi-final we said no-one in the room had a Commonwealth bronze medal so we shouldn't demean the bronze medal game. I was actually wrong because Bobby has got one and now we've got one to match.
"It's a big moment for me and the guys who are just starting. This sets you off on a path where you want to win more and go further. We've won a bronze now and we want to take a step forward. This will keep me playing for a long time because I believe in this group and I think we can go and win things."
England 3 (2)
Alastair Brogdon 29 (FG)
Ashley Jackson 31 38 (PC)
New Zealand 2 (2)
Simon Child 12, 59 (FG)
Andy Hayward 33 (PC)
England win 4-2 in shootout
England scorers - Ashley Jackson , Nick Catlin, Barry Middleton, Simon Mantell (fouled), Ashley Jackson (PS)
New Zealand scorers - Hugo Inglis, Steve Edwards
England Hockey Board Media release
England Men's hockey FINALLY score a Commonwealth medal
IT HAS taken 16 years and plenty of upsets, disappointments and periods of heartache along the way but at last the England men's hockey team have a Commonwealth Games medal to show for their efforts.
By Rob Maul
England men's hockey finally get a commonwealth hockey England show their delight after winning bronze [AP]
Prior to arriving in Glasgow, England had finished fourth at the previous two Commonwealths. Four years ago in Delhi they were beaten 5-3 on penalty strokes by New Zealand.
But yesterday morning at the Glasgow Hockey Centre they gained revenge over their antipodeans opponents.
England, who had two players sin-binned in a tempestuous opening period, led 3-2 early in the second half after Ashley Jackson scored for the second time - and they were dreaming of victory until New Zealander Simon Child equalised in the 59th minute.
The match ended in a 3-3 draw and once more penalty strokes were needed to separate the two nations.
Jackson, the East Grinstead playmaker who finishes the tournament as the joint leading scorer with nine goals, ended up being the hero when he converted the decisive penalty stroke for a 4-2 win on flicks.
"I was as confident as possible about the shootouts," said Jackson. "We just needed to believe. I'm very happy we did it."
England head coach Bobby Crutchley said: "Finishing fourth is a horrible thing and I couldn't be happier for the players that they've got something to show for all the hard work. It was a great advert for hockey and our guys have run their legs off for that result."
The captain Barry Middleton said: "I'm not going to wipe the smile off my face for a little while. We wanted to be in the final but it doesn't take anything away from leaving here with a Commonwealth medal.
"After the semi, we said no one in the room had a Commonwealth bronze medal, so we shouldn't demean the bronze medal game.
"It's a big moment for me and also for the guys who are just starting. This sets you off on a path where you want to win more and go further. We've won a bronze now and we want to take a step forward."
Daily Express
England's men's hockey team win bronze in Glasgow after penalty shoot-out win over New Zealand
By Rod Gilmour, in Glasgow
Triumphant: England men's hockey team beat New Zealand on penalties Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Having watched England's women's team suffer penalty heartache to Australia, the men's team saw off New Zealand in shoot-out to win bronze
If they had lost their bronze medal match with New Zealand, England men might have been better off heading to the Firth of Forth – 90 minutes east of Glasgow – instead of the closing ceremony.
England had finished fourth at the last two Commonwealth Games, as well as two fourth-place finishes in their previous two World Cup campaigns. Missing out on bronze at June’s World Cup rankled, especially as it emerged that Argentina had played with 12 men in the closing stages of defeat.
So Bobby Crutchley’s side looked intent on reversing the trend and another dressing room rallying call from captain Barry Middleton paid dividends – only Crutchley had won a Commonwealth Games medal as a player - as an England team, for the second time in 12 hours, were forced into another nerve-jangling shoot out.
The previous night, England women lost out to Australia in agonising fashion, but Ashley Jackson, who ended the tournament as top goal scorer, with nine, sent his penalty stroke high into the net. It handed England men a first Commonwealth medal since winning bronze in 1998.
England’s 4-2 shoot out win followed a riveting 3-3 draw in normal time. It was a match that swung deliciously throughout and Middleton looked both relieved and emotional as bronze sunk in.
“It’s not going to wipe the smile of my face for a while,” he said. “It’s a big moment for me individually, but also for the guys just starting. It sets you off on a path where you want to win more.
“Hockey is always moving on so you never want to say this is the best group. I have been playing for 11 years and we had some strong teams in 2009 through 2011. I will only say that it is a very good group.
“This will keep me playing for a long time. We can win things, but it will be hard work.”
The Black Sticks, who looked dispirited in losing to India in their semi-final, took the lead when Simon Child weaved through the English defence before lifting over George Pinner.
England thought they had scored soon afterwards, but Phil Roper was adjudged to have used the back of his stick in crossing for Alastair Brogdon to score.
Brogdon did make sure before the break after fine work by Mark Gleghorne and Middleton on the left. Two minutes later Devon Manchester, the New Zealand keeper, was undone again, this time by a penalty corner for a Kiwi foot in the circle. Jackson fired incisively to Manchster’s left.
New Zealand immediately countered and earned a corner of their own. Andy Hayward flicked hard to Pinner’s right to level at the hooter.
Four minutes after the break, England took the lead for the first time. They were beginning to make hay with penalty corners, too. Jackson was again on hand, this time flicking high into the roof of the net.
Child, New Zealand’s stand out performer, then sent the match to a shoot out when he was given time to turn at the top of the circle, before sending a low shot past Pinner, who was rooted to the spot.
Pinner was far livelier in the shoot out. He twice blocked shots and even had time for an exchange of words with Blair Hilton, who pushed the Holcombe keeper.
It soon came to Jackson, but only after Simon Mantell had been felled during his turn from the 23-metre line.
“Ashley is just a superstar,” admitted Crutchley. “We actually spent about 10 years wondering if he had missed a stroke. But he has missed two recently so we were a bit more nervous than normal.”
Australia, just as they did at the World Cup, looked unstoppable in the men’s final after a 4-0 win over India.
The Telegraph
NZ Men edged in dramatic penalty shoot-out
The New Zealand Men are disappointed to have lost 4-2 in penalty shoot-outs to England in the Commonwealth Games bronze medal match, after putting in a courageous and composed performance to draw 3-3 at full time against the world-number-five ranked side.
The team finished fourth and were hoping to finish their Commonwealth Games campaign with a win and claim the bronze medal, but it was not to be at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre overnight.
“We hung in there until the end but we just didn't take enough chances. It was 50-50 - we had similar opportunities. It's a real shame. It's time to sit back and have a think about it all, look back on the game and improve from there," said captain Dean Couzins.
Ironically, the result is a reversal of the bronze medal game in Delhi 2010 when New Zealand won on penalty strokes against England after a 3-3 draw to claim the bronze.
“We have a good group moving forward, we have a really strong group of guys and a strong culture in the team and I think Rio Olympics is going to be a really good opportunity, but it certainly would have been nice to have come away with a medal here,” said New Zealand’s Simon Child.
In today’s game, Child opened the scoring for New Zealand but England equalised when scoring from close range in the 29th minute. A penalty corner strike four minutes before half time from Ashley Jackson, his eighth of the tournament, put England in front. But New Zealand who stuck to their game plan and were determined throughout, went straight down the other end and equalised instantly with Andy Hayward scoring his fifth goal of the tournament, a penalty corner strike for a half time score of 2-2.
Another penalty corner from Jackson in the second half was cancelled out by a Child effort that went through the legs of England goalkeeper George Pinner to take the game to a dramatic shootout.
In the penalty shoot-out, Hugo Inglis stepped up for New Zealand first and slotted his effort into goal. Jackson for England also had no issues and scored. A save for England from a Blair Hilton strike swung the advantage England's way as Nick Catlin and Barry Middleton scored either side of a Steve Edwards strike.
A miss from Child meant the outcome then rested with the experienced Simon Mantell. Mantell was fouled by Manchester and despite New Zealand using its video referral England was awarded a penalty stroke and Jackson scored, securing the win.
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RESULT
Full time: 3-3 draw, loss 4-2 in penalty shoot-out
Half time: 2-2
New Zealand’s goal scorers: Simon Child x2, Andy Hayward
England goal scorers: Alastair Brogdon, Ashley Jackson x2,
Overall results from the tournament
Canada: 3-1 WIN
Trinidad and Tobago: 8-0 WIN
England: 2-1 WIN
Malaysia: 6-1 WIN
India: 2-3 LOSS
England: 3-3 DRAW, loss 4-2 in penalty shoot-out
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks miss out on bronze
By Nik Simon in Glasgow
England players celebrate as they win bronze after a shoot out in the bronze medal match against New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand's rotten luck in shootouts continued as the Black Sticks lost out to England in the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games.
Having watched the women's team also suffer shootout heartbreak in their third-place play-off, the Kiwis were beaten 4-2 after drawing 3-3 in normal time.
Blair Hilton and Simon Child both missed their attempts, before England's Ashley Jackson kept a cool nerve to convert a penalty flick to snatch the bronze.
Hit by a torrential downpour at the start of the match, England fared better in the 'Glasgow summer' and had New Zealand on the back foot, but Devon Manchester marshalled his defence as the Black Sticks staved off the early pressure.
When the Kiwis did eventually venture upfield, Child made England pay for not capitalising on their territory and charged into the shooting circle to flick in the 113th goal of his international career.
New Zealand had the opportunity to double their lead, missing a penalty corner and also forcing a fine save from England keeper George Pinner in open play.
England began to show signs of frustration. Iain Lewers and Ashley Jackson were both sent to the sin-bin but, after having a goal ruled out following a lengthy review, the home nation salvaged an equaliser when Alastair Brogan reacted quickest in a goalmouth scramble.
Jackson and Andy Hayward both exchanged penalty corners to leave the half-time score at 2-2, but Jackson gave England the lead when - following a controversial call to have the set-piece re-taken because of a New Zealand infringement - he converted another penalty corner early in the second half.
At 3-2, there was a chance for England to put the game out of sight. But they missed a penalty corner and New Zealand responded through Child, who scored his second of the game to set up the shootout.
The New Zealand Herald
Black Sticks men lose bronze playoff in shootout
MATT RICHENS IN GLASGOW
OUT OF IT: New Zealand's Alex Shaw battles with England's Ashley Jackson. ROBERT KITCHIN/Fairfax NZ
Two crucial games, two losses, no medals.
That's how the New Zealand men's hockey team's Commonwealth Games ended.
Just 48 hours after the side were unbeaten and looked to have the game to take on world champions and four time defending gold medallists Australia, they'd been upset by India then beaten by England in the bronze medal match.
The Black Sticks had beaten England 2-1 in pool play, but lost in a shootout tonight (NZT) in rainy Glasgow after they two sides finished regulation time locked at 3-3.
After getting back into the match with Simon Child's second goal of the match, with 11 minutes to play, New Zealand struggled in the shootout, losing 4-2.
New Zealand keeper Devon Manchester was unable to save any of the English penalty shots while Blair Hilton and Child both had their shots saved by George Pinner.
Earlier, a quick-thinking Child gave New Zealand an early lead in the 12th minute.
He made a run into the English circle but his initial shot was repelled by Pinner.
The ball returned to Child and he calmly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the open net.
England looked to have scored within 25-seconds of the restart but, after a number of reviews, it was decided an English attacker had used the back of his stick and New Zealand's review was upheld.
But it started a determined run by the English.
Kiwi keeper Devon Manchester was forced to make a handy save after his defence was opened up too easily, but he was unable to keep his clean sheet.
In the 29th minute, Manchester had kept out an English shot, but failed to clear the ball and Alastair Brodgon was able to dink the ball over the sprawled goalie to score England's first.
They pushed ahead just two minutes later when Ashley Jackson blasted in a flick from a penalty corner.
In their semifinal loss to India, New Zealand heads dropped after the opposition scored, but this time they struck back immediately, rushing up the field, earning a penalty corner then converting it through a typically fierce Andy Hayward strike.
Both teams scored once more. Jackson scored his ninth of the tournament from the English's second penalty corner before Child grabbed his second with 11 minutes remaining.
England 3 (Ashley Jackson 2, Alastair Brodgon) New Zealand 3 (Simon Child 2, Andy Hayward). HT: 2-2. England win 4-2 in shootout
Stuff
Captain Dean Couzins announces retirement
Black Sticks captain Dean Couzins has officially announced his retirement after playing a massive 318 test caps for New Zealand – the second most capped men’s hockey player in New Zealand’s history.
Although Couzins had suggested that perhaps the Commonwealth Games would be his last tournament, he only officially announced it to the team following their bronze medal game against England.
The 33-year old defender from Auckland has been the rock of the Black Sticks defence for 13 years and coach Colin Batch says his experience and leadership will be well missed by the team. Couzins is known for his intelligent, skilful play and determination when it comes to leading his side both on and off the field.
As the build-up to the Rio Olympics continues and with the qualification tournament only nine months away, Couzins felt he couldn’t commit to another Olympic cycle and it was a good time now to stand down and let others take over.
Couzins has played in three Olympic Games and four Commonwealth Games and thanks his family, friends and all the people that have supported him during his outstanding career.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Couzins announces retirement
Dean Couzins. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand captain Dean Couzins has retired from international hockey.
Couzins, 33, has won 318 caps, second most in New Zealand history behind team mate Phil Burrows.
The Auckland defender announced his decision after New Zealand were beaten in a penalty shootout in the bronze medal match against England at the Commonwealth Games today.
He has been in the national team for 13 years. Couzins felt he could not commit to the Olympic cycle through to the Rio Games in 2016.
He played in three Olympics and four Commonwealth Games.
The New Zealand Herald
Black Sticks captain retires, picks Rio medal
MATT RICHENS IN GLASGOW
Departing Black Sticks captain Dean Couzins believes his team will be a medal contender at the 2016 Olympics. ROBERT KITCHIN/ Fairfax NZ
Departing New Zealand men's hockey captain Dean Couzins believes the Black Sticks are a genuine medal threat at the Rio Olympics despite leaving the Glasgow Commonwealth Games empty-handed.
Shortly after New Zealand lost their bronze medal match with England in a penalty shootout, Couzins announced his retirement to his team-mates.
The Rio qualification tournament was only nine months away, but Couzins, 33, said there were enough good signs the side would be well placed for a shot at their first Olympic medal since the gold won in Montreal in 1976.
"My feeling is the team is tracking well and improving," he said.
"It's really disappointing this group doesn't have more to show for what we've been doing recently.
"We got a silver medal at the World League Finals. That's the top eight teams in the world and we finished second. Obviously, other times we haven't done so well."
Consistency and execution were the team's major must-do-betters, but generally, he said, the signs were good.
"There's a real openness and honesty in the group at the moment," he said.
"Those are the things you build a good team on.
"We still have those issues about consistency where we play three or four very good games in a row then have that off-game like we did against India [in the Games' semifinal on Saturday].
"We have to use games like that and learn. Hopefully it's a bit of a turning point for these guys, especially the young guys.
"It hurts and it will hurt for a while and it should, but the guys need to look at it and realise we need to keep getting better.
"If we want to medal at these tournaments and other tournaments and reach our goals, we have to win games like that Indian one.
"In some regards you have to learn from it and turn it into a positive; if you dwell on it you're going to be a miserable bunch."
On his retirement, Couzins said it was a tough decision.
"If you're going to keep playing now you have to commit through to Rio and I just couldn't do that," Couzins told Radio Sport.
"It feels like the right time. I've spent a lot of time agonising over this decision.
"I'm going to miss it like heck and I'll miss playing with these guys. I'm so proud to have been involved with New Zealand hockey for as long as I have."
Couzins, originally from Canterbury, started his representative hockey in Dunedin then moved to Auckland and is the second most-capped New Zealand hockey player with 318 caps. He first played for New Zealand in 2001 and attended three Olympics and four Commonwealth Games.
Stuff
Black Sticks rue lack of depth in both teams
By Kris Shannon
It does seem as though fine-tuning is the answer considering how close the Black Sticks often come. Photo / Greg Bowker
New Zealand will become accustomed to bronze medal matches at hockey tournaments unless they produce more players of a higher quality.
That's the view of both the men's and women's Black Sticks after they failed to achieve their long-stated goals of reaching the gold medal match at the Glasgow Games.
It is becoming a recurring theme for hockey in this country. Both sides have shown plenty of potential leading into blue ribbon tournaments but disappointments are more common than appearances on the top of the dais.
So what can be done to change the trend of underwhelming performances in the biggest of matches?
"I think it comes down in the end that we didn't have enough good players," said men's coach Colin Batch. "The semifinal's always another step up and we didn't deliver."
Kayla Whitelock, captain of the women's side, agreed with that assessment, pointing to a lack of depth as the difference between the Black Sticks and the top nations.
"Those other teams are well-funded and live together and train together and we can't compete with that. But we need to develop better depth in our game so we have more young players coming through.
"That would leave us under pressure for our places and that's always a good thing when you get to a tournament like this."
It does seem as though fine-tuning is the answer, as opposed to a complete overhaul, considering how close the Black Sticks often come. Getting over the line, men's captain Phil Burrows explained, would be about minor adjustments instead of massive changes.
"The first thing we have to realise is there's not much between the top eight teams in the world, and you have to be at the top of your game to be there ...
"We touched on that you have to have consistency throughout tournaments. We got pretty close to that but we haven't quite got there."
The New Zealand Herald
Hockey NZ to seek help after Glasgow upsets
MATT RICHENS IN GLASGOW
DOWN AND OUT: Men's Black Sticks player Simon Child deals with the disappointment after his side finished fourth in Glasgow. ROBERT KITCHIN/Fairfax NZ
Hockey New Zealand will seek advice from High Performance Sport New Zealand's experts to help improve their teams' consistency and penalty shoot-out ability.
Both teams finished a place below their rankings at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games; the women winning the bronze medal match while the men lost theirs and finished fourth.
Both sides lost penalty shoot-outs to England, the women in the semifinal, the men in the bronze medal match.
The women's side is starting to make a habit out of dipping out on penalties and Hockey New Zealand boss Malcolm Harris said while it wasn't considered a major issue, seeking advice on the mental side of it from experts at HPSNZ was common-sense.
"After every big tournament we have a comprehensive review," he said.
"The review from this event will certainly be talking about [the shoot-out losses] and how we go about correcting that in the future."
Harris defended the teams' performances at Glasgow and said they were close to meeting their goals.
The women's team was expected to make the final while the men's side hoped to medal, he said.
"We would have preferred to make a final and a medal, but if you have a look at the trends over the last three years, the world rankings have only gone in one direction and that's the right direction.
"And if you have a look at hockey internationally, there are four teams [ranked] ahead of the women and five ahead of the men and we're the only nation that doesn't have a full-time professional, centralised programme.
"We back ourselves, but we also need to be realistic."
Harris remained confident the right people were in the right positions to "take the sport forward" and reiterated his stance on women's coach Mark Hager.
Hager is weighing up his options and is now off contract following the Games.
He has to decide if he wants to stay with the Black Sticks through to the Rio Olympics in 2016 or have a crack at the vacant Australian men's job.
"I've told Mark we're very keen to retain his services. We just have to wait now," Harris said.
Harris said there was no back-up plan should Hager leave, but said the position would be advertised internationally.
"With where the women's team is placed, it's would be a very attractive position," he said.
Stuff
Difficult choice looming for Black Sticks coach
NATHAN BURDON
New Zealand women's hockey coach Mark Hager will weigh up a shot at his dream job against a shot at an Olympic medal in Rio with the Black Sticks.
New Zealand recovered from the disappointment of a semifinal loss to England at the Commonwealth Games to win bronze with a 5-2 victory over South Africa in the playoff for third yesterday.
The former Australian representative player has made no secret of his interest in the Australian men's coaching role, which became vacant following the surprise departure of Ric Charlesworth before the Commonwealth Games.
Hager, whose contract comes to an end in December, said he hadn't dedicated a lot of thought to his coaching future.
"I just wanted to get this out of the way before I sat down. I wanted to speak to some of the players; I've got to go home and speak to my family as well," he said.
"I really love this group. They are a fantastic group of girls. I still think they can win a medal in Rio, as long as we can keep the core group together and we can really push from behind."
Hager is sorely tempted by the chance to return to Australia to lead the team he played 231 games for from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
"Coaching roles don't come up that often. I'm not lying - it's my home, I played for the Kookaburras in many a game and one day it is my dream to coach them. Whether it's now, I'm not sure, or whether it's complete the role with these girls. Sometimes I think you can also have a used-by date with players and they get sick of the same repetition, and you can see sometimes you can lose them."
Black Sticks captain Kayla Whitelock will be unavailable for the next six months with husband George, a former All Black and Crusaders loose forward, playing rugby in Japan.
Jordan Grant scored two second half goals as the Black Sticks came from 2-2 with 20 minutes to go to bank a convincing win over the South Africans.
A big win in torrential conditions at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre had provided the team with something to savour after a disappointing campaign, Whitelock said.
"I know what it's like to go away from a tournament and come away with nothing. It's a pretty hollow feeling. To win your last game is pretty crucial and I'm glad the girls stepped up today."
Meanwhile, Australia beat England 4-2 in a penalty shootout to defend their Games title.
Stuff
U.S. Men’s National Team Solidifies Second Victory Over Mexico
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – The U.S. Men’s National Team made a scoreboard statement by racking up an impressive eight goals and held Mexico scoreless for the entirety of the match. This victory is Team USA’s second win against Mexico in the squad’s second summer series.
There is no denying the sheer ferocity of the red, white and blue’s strength in the attacking circle today. Striker Christian Linney (San Diego, Calif.) began the goal scoring frenzy in 14th minute for the USA. From there the flood gates were unleashed, and William Holt (Camarillo, Calif.) punched three rockets passed Mexico’s defense in the 15th, 21st and the 35th minutes to create a halftime report of 4-0.
“We are pleased with the progress our young team is making,” said Head Coach Chris Clements. “The combinations that we are creating over the length of the field are resulting in some great goals and goal scoring opportunities. Today we kept our composure for the full 70 minutes.”
The match pace remained high into the second half when Michael Barminski (Ventura, Calif.) cranked a field goal into the net in the 43rd minute. Holt didn’t settle for his already established hat trick in the first half, and in the 47th minute mark he secured another goal for Team USA off of a penalty corner. With the score now 6-0, the hunger to build up a lead didn’t dip. Midfielders Kevin Barber (Camarillo, Calif.) and Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif) slammed in two more goals in the 58th and 60th minutes creating a firework finale finish.
“It is great to be part of this team and it's exciting to see that we continue to get better every match we play,” said Holt. “I am happy that I contributed by scoring four goals today.”
Adding to today’s astounding result, earning his first shutout as a goalkeeper Spencer Reed (Ventura, Calif.) also notched his first cap for Team USA.
The USA started the series with a 6-1 win over Mexico yesterday and will meet their opponents again on the pitch Tuesday, August 5 at 10:45 a.m. PST.
USFHA media release
Pakistan Hockey team selection likely in mid-August
Syed Intikhab Ali
KARACHI: The trials for the selection of national hockey team are likely to be held in the third week of August, ‘The News’ has learnt.
The probable players will gather on Monday (today) in Islamabad and resume their training on Tuesday (tomorrow).
Sources said that during the third phase of the training camp, trials were likely to be held for the selection of national hockey team. The PHF would take final decision in a meeting in couple of days, they said.
They said that chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh had submitted the third phase programme to PHF, and proposed to the high-ups of PHF that after the selection a foreign tour of a European country should be organised.
Shahnaz told this correspondent that he had recommended a foreign tour for the national team in the last week of August. “Pakistan team has not played international hockey for several months whereas all the rivals in the Asian Games have played extensively, including the World Cup and the ongoing Commonwealth Games. Our boys lack international experience,” he said.
“The Asian teams would not be interested as they have already played a lot of hockey. Our only option is to go to a European country, which would give our boys some international exposure before the Asian Games,” the chief coach said.
Shahnaz said that the camp training was in final stages and the players had improved a lot, “but they have to prove themselves in international hockey”.
He said that during the training they had worked hard in all departments, keeping in view the new format.
Shahnaz said they laid emphasis on goalkeeping and scoring on penalty corners. “We have trained Imran, Irfan and Tauseef as penalty corner specialists,” he said.
He said Imran produced good results and Irfan also showed goal scoring skills.
“We worked with all four goalkeepers and right now it’s difficult to say who the best is. They have to prove themselves in trials,” he said.
He said some senior players of the hockey team were still without permanent jobs, including Shakeel Abbasi and Haseem Khan.
He appealed to the federal government to pay attention to the financial issues of PHF, so that the national team could adequately prepare for big assignments.
The News International
Indian hockey team to tour Bangladesh
Indian hockey team waves to the crowd after their final match agaisnt Australia at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. The Indian hockey team will be touring Bangladesh on a short series before the Incheon Asian Games.
Fresh from a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow, the Indian men’s hockey team is now eyeing the Asian Games and will tour Bangladesh for a three-match series starting August 6 to tune-up for the challenge in Incheon, South Korea.
The series is expected to provide international exposure to the young players just before the Asiad in South Korea from September 19 to October 4.
In this regard, the core probables for the Asian Games team will find the series an appropriate opportunity to test their skills against an international opponent. The performance of players during this series will help selectors and coaches to select the best team for the 2014 Asiad.
The team will be captained by the experienced defender Vickram Kanth while midfielder S.K. Uthappa will be the vice-captain.
The team will depart for Dhaka on August 5 for the scheduled matches on 6 August 6,8 and 9 and will return the next day of the final game.
Speaking on the upcoming series, Hockey India (HI) general secretary Narinder Batra said, “We feel that while one unit of the core probables for Asian Games has gained experience from the XX Commonwealth Games where they won the Silver medal, this set of players will also have an opportunity to familiarise themselves in an international environment. Bangladesh has some very competent players and it will be good to play against them to review our own capabilities.”
“The experience of playing under pressure on an international platform always adds to the skills of the players and even helps in identifying the areas where the player lacks and the training required thereafter. This three-match series will help the team to get in rhythm according to the international requirements of playing away from home and even working upon the concerned areas henceforth,” he added.
The Hindu