We have to play well in all four quarters, says Graham Reid

The Indian men’s hockey team is touring Australia ahead of the crucial FIH Series Finals which will be held in June and will be a qualifying event for Tokyo Olympics. India has been unbeaten so far in the competition as they defeated WA Thundersticks in the warm-up match first and then won one and drew one against Australia A. However, the real test for the team will be the next two games when they will face the strong Australian unit.

Indian coach Graham Reid has said that his team will have to play well in all four quarters when they will take on the former World Champions on Wednesday.

"On Wednesday we will need to start much better and play well in all four quarters. In tomorrow's practice session we will be working on our connections especially in the midfield," Reid was quoted as saying by Hockey India. 

India had scored three goals in the first quarter in the previous game against Australia A to win that 3-0 while in today’s game, Australia A had taken a 1-0 lead before India managed to get the equaliser in the last quarter through Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick in the 56th minute. The coach is of the opinion that the Manpreet Singh-led side did well towards the end today and also created chances to win the game as well.

"We had a poor start in the first ten minutes of the game which was a complete opposite to how we played on Friday," the Indian coach explained after the game against Australia A on Monday.

"We slowly got back into the game in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters and also created enough opportunities to win the game.”