IND vs AUS Highlights, Hockey 1st Test: Wickham double gives Australia comfortable 5-1 win over India

A comfortable win for Australia in the 1st Test in Perth. A goal in every quarter showing the team’s domination throughout the game.

Tim Brand opened the scoring early in the first half before Tom Wickham extended the lead. Joel Rintala and Wickham scored to put the result beyond doubt.

Gurjant got one back for India after a lightning quick counter attack before Australia extended the lead through Flynn Ogilvie. 

AUS 5 (Brand 3’, Wickham 20’, 38’, Rintala 37’, Ogilvie (PC) 57’) bt IND 1 (Gurjant 47’)

Australia’s relentless attack continue. Great passage of play between Ockenden and Ogilvie to conjure up a chance. Krishan puts pressure on the near post to prevent a late goal.

A PC for Australia. Ogilvie makes it five, Krishan saves the initial shot from Hayward but the save falls straight to Ogilvie who lofts it over the keeper. 

A overhead pass towards Sumit as India tries to conjure up another attack. Australia steals possession and counters. 

Andrew Charter comes up with a super save to deny Harmanpreet after the PC again. High on the right, he reacts quickly to keep it out. 

A chance for Australia at the other end but Krishan does well to save. A misstrap almost proving to be advantageous for the Kookaburras. 

Excellent play from Rajkumar twisting and turning in the penalty area, managing to get a PC. The first shot is saved but India will have another chance.

A rapid ball into the danger area from the right side for India, nobody manages to get a touch. It was Jarmanpreet who played the ball in but Abhishek couldn’t react in time. 

Australia slowing down the pace slightly. Right on cue Harvey comes up with a quick turn and run in, defended well. 

Hayward with the shot and its blocked by the defence. 

In the blink of an eye, India counter with Gurjant making room and rifling a shot into the net. 

Early PC for Australia. Krishan not happy with the call. But the decision stays. 

Two goals for the home team in Q3 puts them in complete control of the game. A late open play chance for India in an otherwise poor half. One last quarter to salvage something. 

Harmanpreet blasts one in from quite far away in the hope of creating something. Neelakanta almost gets one back with a shot yards away from goal. Saved by the keeper though.

Australia with a glorious chance to get a fifth. Sreejesh gets down low to thwart Wickham from getting his third. 

Mandeep with possession on the left flank, runs it out of bounds. Not the best game from him so far. Hasn’t been effective on the final third. 

Wickham with a ferocious strike from the edge of the area to the far corner to further extend Australia’s lead. Defensive mistake from India punished again!

Australia has a third goal. Ky Willot was in a great position near the goal, plays the ball into Rintala who provides the finishing touch. 

Good play from India to get the ball into an attacking area again, the attack breaks down though. The final clinching pass has been missing for India all game. 

First attack for Australia, the shot from slightly far out by Ephraums. Just past Sreejesh’s right hand post. Shot wasn’t very far away from Brand’s stick. A deflection could have been dangerous for India. 

Mandeep gets the third quarter underway. India plays a lofted shot into the area early, but the home team’s defenders are upto to the task. No real space given to the attackers.

Australia manage to turnover possession right at the end of the half but the buzzer rings just in time. Good second quarter for the Kookaburras with Tom Wickham doubling the lead. 

Another attempt at a lofted pass from Australia. Goes way beyond the intended target. India will hope to create a chance with less than 90 seconds to go in the quarter.

Abhishek with possession near the touchline, tries to flick it back into the area in the hope of getting a corner. Australia comes away with possession though. 

Ball finds kindly for Harvey in the penalty area but his shot is straight at the keeper. India counters with the ball being played into Mandeep. Doesn’t get it under control though. 

Attack down the right for India but the through pass at the right flank is short and Australia gets a foul, the defender just managing to get ahead of Raj Kumar.

Wickham doubles the lead. The first attack was defended well and thwarted but Zalewski manages to get the ball to Wickham who swivels and shoots it into the goal.

Australia plays a lofted ball into the penalty area. Krishan Pathak saves!

Penalty Corner for India! Manpreet’s surge forward strikes a foot.

The flick from Abhishek is mistrapped and the chance goes begging for India!

India with its first foray forward after a mistrap from the attack comes to nothing though. 

Australia with early possession in the 2nd quarter. A long corner for them as the ball is deflected out. 

Australia take an early lead in the contest with Tim Brand getting a goal in the 3rd minute. The home team had the chance to double the lead with two PCs but Sreejesh denied it both times. 

Raheel Mohammed looks for a through ball into Gurjant but the pass has too much pace on it and it goes out of bounds. 

Australia counters after stealing possession, Whetton dives full length in an attempt to reach the pass, just beyond his reach. 

PC for India. Just past the left hand post and Australia survives. Amit Rohidas with the flick on the PC this time. 

Another PC for Australia! Joe Rintala at the end of the shot again, this time its a much more comfortable save for Sreejesh, near his chest. Scoreline stays 1-0.

Penalty Corner for Australia! Zalewski does well to maintain possession and drive forward.

Joel Rintala takes a shot after the drag but Sreejesh is upto the task, stretching full length to save.

Good one-two play attempted by India on the left flank, the referee brings it back for a foul though. 

Quick transition from India, Abhishek gets the ball and looks to get a shot away but the defenders and the keeper do well to stifle the chance. 

Tim Brand opens the scoring for Australia! Quick switch from defence to attack, Brand finds space on the left, cuts in and makes space to shoot beyond the reach of Sreejesh in goal.

India keeping possession at the back, good pressing by Australia at the start. Jarmanpreet looks to go long but the ball goes out of bounds. 

The home team gets the game underway, playing from right to left.

The two sets of players make their way out to the middle. Huge cheers for Australia captain Aran Zalewski on his 250th appearance. 

Time for the national anthems. 

Matches: 72

Australia wins: 50

Draws: 6

India wins: 16

The 1st Test between India and Australia at Perth will be telecast live on the Sports 18 network. The match can also be streamed live via the Jio Cinema app and website. 

The in-form Indian men’s hockey team will look to pass the “litmus test” that the formidable Australian side will pose at home when the two face off in a five-match Test series beginning here on Saturday. 

The series offers India a chance to gauge their strengths and capabilities ahead of the Paris Olympics.

“This series serves as a litmus test for our team’s preparedness ahead of the Paris Olympics. We aim to fine-tune our strategies and identify areas for improvement to ensure we are in peak form for the mega event.

“Our focus will be on executing our game plan effectively and adapting to the challenges posed by the Australian side,” chief coach Craig Fulton said.

The away assignment offers the ideal chance for India to break their decade-long dry spell against Australia and secure a Test series win.

- PTI

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Indian hockey team ready for Australia challenge ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics

In-form Indian men's hockey team faces formidable Australia in five-match Test series, preparing for Paris Olympics.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live updates from the 1st Test between India and Australia at Perth. Stay Tuned for all updates and live commentary from the match.