India vs Australia, Hockey Test Series, Match 1 Highlights: Kookaburras win 5-1; Gurjant Singh scores consolation goal | Hockey News

India’s hockey team enters home stretch by taking on its kryptonite, Australia

The conversion remains one of the top problem areas but another concern raised its head during the match. As was the case against Spain, their basic skills – trapping and passing – let them down.(Credit: Hockey India)

The lessons for Craig Fulton from the Pro League largely centered around set pieces, on both ends. Defending penalty corners and keeping a high conversion rate in the set-piece situations is something that India have identified as an area to improve.

Fulton is still in the process of finalising the squad for Paris, but instead of narrowing the list down, he has opted to go with almost the entire core group, with 27 making the cut for the Perth tour. He hasn’t hesitated to experiment with different combinations, but the objective will still be to beat the mighty Australia in Australia. (READ MORE)

India vs Australia schedule (all matches in Perth)

Match 1: 6 April 2.00 pm IST

Match 2: 7 April 2.00 pm IST

Match 3: 10 April 3.00 pm IST

Match 4: 12 April 3.00 pm IST

Match 5: 13 April 2.00 pm IST

India hockey coach Craig Fulton interview

After playing an influential role in the rise of Ireland and Belgium, the South African is now tasked with ensuring India’s growth story continues after the team won the bronze at the Tokyo Games.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Fulton talks about his efforts to understand the country’s culture, including the caste system, explains why he roped in renowned sports psychologist Paddy Upton, who will accompany the team for the Olympics, introducing changes to India’s playing style and applying finishing touches to Paris preparations by playing test series in Australia and the Netherlands. (Read More)