Traditional rivals India and Pakistan are best-suited for hockey's new nine-a-side format, Hockey 9's which will make its debut with the LANCO International Super Series in Perth from October 20-23, said it's mastermind Ric Charlesworth.
With a view to revolutionise hockey and make it more free-flowing and viewer-friendly, Charlesworth, Australian men's team coach, had conceptulised the nine-a-side format which will played under new rules to ensure fast-paced hockey.
Even though fitness will be key to a team's success in this format, Charlesworth was of the view that India and Pakistan will have an edge over other teams in the upcoming four-nation tournament.
- LANCO International Super Series
"These rules are made for India and Pakistan in my view. Most of us in Australia, love the way India and Pakistan traditionally play the game. We learnt most of our hockey from what we saw in the sub-continent," Charlesworth said, in a video message during the launch of the nine-a-side tournament, in New Delhi, on Tuesday.
"The Indian players have fluency, speed, terrific skills and play an attacking style of hockey."
Chareslworth was of the view that the nine-a-side format will revolutionise hockey and give the game a completely new dimension.
"Hockey has developed significantly in the past couple of years. The game has become much faster and fluent with more spaces opening up and more opportunity to attack and more goals," he observed.
"Just as in the 70's when Kerry Packer revolutionized cricket and the game evolved, this (nine-a-side format) is an opportunity to experiment with the rules of hockey," added former technical director of the Indian hockey team.
Just like Charlesworth, Indian women's team coach C R Kumar too viewed that Indian and Pakistani players are better equiped to succeed in the new format.
"India and Pakistan have better chance because they have better skill and finishing abilities," he said.
Kumar, however, was realistic about his wards chances in the upcoming tournament.
"It will be really tough for the Indian girls because we are still learning. Though we have enough skills it takes a lot of energy in such a format. A best a player can play for five minutes continuously," he said.
"We have worked more on our fitness but we also need to concentrate on skill. We will try to give our best but our priority remains the four-Test series against Australia before the nine-a-side event," the coach added.
Kumar said that the new format can also make or break a goalkeeper's career.
"It would be tough for the goalkeepers to adjust to biggers goals. A goalkeeper has to have agility, reaction and sound decision-making power. If you commit first you are finish but you also can become a hero in 15 minutes," he said.
