WHEN INDIA tackle England of their second match of the hockey World Cup in Rourkela Sunday, they may run right into a group that has taken a leaf in a foreign country’s trendsetting cricket group — the ultra-aggressive strategy, particularly when batting, generally known as ‘Bazball’.
England have reached the semifinals of the final three hockey World Cups. But coming into this version, they’ve ditched their barely conservative strategy and remodeled into one of many fiercest attacking items in world hockey.
This is clear from a few of their latest scorelines, together with in Great Britain colors on the Olympics: 3-0 (vs the Netherlands), 2-2 (vs Argentina), 6-3 (vs South Africa), 2-3 (vs Australia) and 11-2 (vs Canada).
Huge win to begin the #HWC2023 for England 💪 pic.twitter.com/85rOvTcjp5
— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) January 13, 2023
India opened their World Cup marketing campaign with a 2-0 win over a younger Spanish facet that appeared overawed by the event. But England shall be their hardest check of the group stage in addition to the most important hurdle to complete on high of the group and routinely qualify for the quarterfinals.
The shift in England’s philosophy got here after the departure of former coach Danny Kerry and the arrival of Paul Revington earlier than final yr’s Commonwealth Games. “Much more free-flowing, more attacking, more aggressive,” Sam Ward, certainly one of England’s most prolific gamers, was quoted as saying by The Times, London. “We have gone down the ‘Bazball’ mentality.”
Since adopting the buccaneering ‘Bazball’ strategy, impressed by coach Brendon McCullum, the England cricket group has metamorphosed from one win in 17 Tests to 9 wins of their final 10 matches.
What an energizing efficiency by the entire gamers! The first day on the Birsa Munda Stadium was full of pleasure, ardour, leisure, and enthusiasm. ❤️💯#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/dTFU40h4Zs
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 13, 2023
Ward, the hockey group ahead, stated ‘Bazball’ greatest defines his group’s philosophy as properly.
The model of England’s cricket and hockey groups has certainly been comparable. Both play positively, have proven the flexibility to take in the stress and stay affected person in addition to possess the form of ruthlessness that was beforehand not related to them. That’s how England gave Australia a scare in the course of the Commonwealth Games and defeated former Olympic champions Netherlands and Argentina within the FIH Pro League final month.
“It’s not just the style on the pitch, it’s also the philosophy — removing the fear of failure, just like (captain) Ben (Stokes) and Brendon have done. We feel the same as Stokes does about cricket. We want to excite people, we want to entertain people,” Ward stated.
The pleasure and leisure ranges have shot up, notably when England and India have met one another of late. All their latest encounters have been high-scoring, with India holding a slight edge. The proven fact that India coach Graham Reid swears by attacking hockey as properly means the essential Pool D match between the 2 sides may as soon as once more be a high-scoring, high-stakes thriller.
The Pool D desk within the FIH Men’s World Cup because it stands after yesterday’s video games, we stay up for tomorrow’s sport towards India at 1:30pm. pic.twitter.com/O9992xOAxg
— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) January 14, 2023
The winner of Sunday’s match would be the favorite to high the pool, thus making certain a direct spot within the quarterfinals. On the opposite hand, the group that finishes second or third within the group must undergo the tough playoff route simply to achieve the quarters, the place they may stumble upon the reigning world and Olympic champions Belgium.
It may even be an interesting conflict of concepts – England’s transformation from into an ultra-attacking outfit has coincided with India placing much more concentrate on tightening its defence with out giving up on their pure attacking instincts.
Indian captain @13harmanpreet speaks to us after his group earned a powerful 2-0 win towards latest rivals Spain. #HWC2023 @TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/ITH4ZnR3Ak
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) January 13, 2023
This was evident from the best way the 2 sides performed their separate video games on Friday. England have been ruthless towards World Cup debutants Wales, profitable 5-0. India, taking part in a much more superior opponent, appeared extra preoccupied with not conceding a objective, which resulted in what Reid described as his group’s “best defensive performance since the Tokyo Olympics”.
While the win over Spain can be a confidence-booster, Sunday night’s match in entrance of one other sell-out crowd shall be a battle of equals — between the groups ranked fifth (England) and sixth on the earth. And as a lot because the ‘Bazball’ strategy of Revington’s England, it’ll even be an actual check of the defensive solidity of Reid’s India.
