Ric Charlesworth may be busy with television commentary at the ongoing Hockey World Cup, but it has not stopped the former Australia hockey coach to be forthright about the future of the two games he has been closely associated with—hockey and cricket. When he is not doing commentary, he's closely watching teams practice at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Early mornings are dedicated to following the India-Australia Test series on TV.
Friday being a rest day at the Hockey World Cup, Charlesworth decided to attend a book launch in the evening on tribal hockey players from Odisha.
The former India hockey team technical director didn't hide his displeasure at quality of the drop-in pitch and the new Perth stadium. “Just look at that wicket. It is not a quality wicket. The ball is showing variable bounce already on day one. Drop-in pitches are like that—they won't turn,” he told THE WEEK.
also read
- Harendra Singh removed as Indian men's hockey coach
- Hockey WC: Belgium beat Netherlands in shoot-out to win maiden title
- Hockey World Cup: Australia thrash England 8-1 to clinch bronze medal
- Hockey WC: No celebrations as sombre Belgium enter first final
- Batra loses cool over question on tiff between HI CEO, players
He blamed commercial reasons for Western Australia Cricket Association's decision to move out of the iconic WACA ground, where Charlesworth played his domestic cricket. “It is the men in suits who are deciding on the game. What's the use of such a big stadium if only 5,000 people are turning up to watch and rest of the seats are empty?”
He also admitted that Australia were missing Steven Smith and David Warner, who were banned for an year by Cricket Australia for ball-tampering. “It was, of course, an over-reaction to ban them for so long.” He, however, added, “Aggression is okay but not cheating.”
He said that the same commercial reasons were driving both cricket and hockey towards disaster. “Cricket made the changes in format and look it is already changing the game. Hockey has to fight for its space in the sporting stratosphere, but hockey 5s is not the answer. We already have a one and a half hour long product for TV. Five-a-side will change the way the game is played, not necessarily for the right reasons.”
He fully endorsed the current format of four quarters. “I think this format is pretty good. Hockey 5s is a crazy idea.”
The five-a-side format is played on a smaller pitch but long passing and aerial passing is restricted.
However, Thierry Weil, CEO, International Hockey Federation, brushed aside concerns about the game's future as well as those related to the existing format. “It [hockey 5s] is not a new format but a new initiative which the FIH is trying to bring at a global level. A short format will allow hockey to go into areas where it has not been played. I am confident hockey 5s and 11s will be able to co-exist.
“That it will be the end of hockey 11s is completely wrong. In Olympics, hockey will not change to 5s. I guarantee you that will not happen,” he said during a media interaction ahead of the semifinal matches today.
