S Africa opener key to Baskaran’s strategies

Johannesburg, Aug 12: A youthful India take on a physically stronger and determined South Africa in the first tie of the five-match hocke...

Johannesburg, Aug 12: A youthful India take on a physically stronger and determined South Africa in the first tie of the five-match hockey Test series tomorrow with much at stake for both the teams.

Victory in the series will be a perfect boost for the Indians, who landed here early today on the tour which is held as an important fixture to fine-tune their strategy for the preparation for next year’s Sydney Olympics,

The Asian Games champions, who beat the South Africans 2-1 in the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur in September last year when the two last met, start favourites.

But the hosts are in full preparation ahead of the all-Africa Games slated from September 8-18, where the winner will automatically qualify for the Olympics.

Tomorrow’s match will be crucial for India as it would help chief coach Vasudevan Baskaran check out various combinations and tactics, especially in the absence of key defender Dilip Tirkey and the last minute withdrawal of bustling forward Baljit Singh Dhillon due toinjury.

Baskaran was confident and said he was looking forward to the tour. “Obviously, we will be affected by the change in weather on the first day, but I can assure you that our team will give its best,” Baskaran said.

He would hope Dhillon’s replacement Harbhajan Singh will gel with the frontline, led by young Gagan Ajit Singh. The onus will be on the halfline marshalled by pivot and skipper Mohammed Riaz with Ramandeep Singh on the left and Baljit Singh Saini on the right also seasoned.