A blizzard [combination of Tournament Director (an Aussie) and a superior team] hit the Indian team and blew them off their feet. They had no answer to the onslaught. The result was a 5-2 result.
The nonsensical 3 match ban on Shivendra (arguably India’s most potent weapon in the frontlines) ensured that the Aussies had an easier day on the field. First the 3 match ban if not ridiculous enough in itself when the aggrieved parties including the on field umpires and the player do not complain but someone sitting outside the field jumps in to make a point. This is later compounded by more idiocacy. After the Indian team management filed an appeal against Shivendra’s three-match suspension by Australian tournament director Ken Read, a three-member jury of the FIH reduced it to two matches, as the wise men felt his act of hitting a Pak player was not deliberate as deemed earlier but reckless, and hence the show of leniency.
That’s hardly any solace for a shattered Shivendra who is reported as saying, “What’s the use? I had prepared so hard for the World Cup. I would be missing two key games. But I am confident my team will go all the way. I will cheer for them from the bench. I hope this acts as a motivational factor,” he said.
However, several former players are fuming at the injustice. “This is shocking. If the tournament director wished so much to set a precedent why did he choose India? The England-Australia game before that was ill-tempered too, how come that escaped his notice? This is a conspiracy to skittle our campaign,” said former star Mir Ranjan Negi. Former captain Zafar Iqbal said he always felt India and Pakistan teams were unfairly targeted by the FIH. “This is another clear example. When there was no complaint from either the rival team or the on-field umpires, what was the need for this?” he asked.
Where India won it: The midfield. Arjun Halappa and Sardar Singh were admirably cool under pressure and their control was admirable despite the pressure generated by the Australians.
Where Australia won it: Sheer domination. The defence saw through India’s deep flank runs and crosses. Hard tackling and good marking of India’s forwards in the circle had them enjoying supremacy.
Sparklers: Luke Doerner, Glenn Turner, Arjun Halappa
Duds: Sandeep Singh
In the final analysis: Shivendra Singh’s suspension showed on the forwardline. India seemed starved of substitutions as Gurvinder Chandi was no patch on the speedy Shivendra. Still, India could have done themselves a favour by slackening the pace and shifting from the regulation flank runs which were becoming monotonous.
