Sub-jrs to play Malaysia in first Test

Rich fare is in store for hockey lovers as the junior teams of India and Malaysia meet in the first match of the four-Test series at the Police hockey astroturf ground in Hyderabad on Monday.

As some of Indian players who participated in the five-nation tournament in Malaysia, where India finished third behind Australia and the hosts, will only reach Hyderabad on Monday morning, the Indian line-up for the match is likely be from the under-18 team probables, who are training in Hyderabad.

Indian team coach, former Olympian goalkeeper Charles Cornelius informed: "We would like to field the campers, as their average age is 18. Which means the India will be feilding a sub-junior side for the first match."

Cornelius, however, said India will be at full strength for the second Test.

"In the second Test, we will field the team which took part in the five-nation championship in Malaysia. I am confident that the campers, most of whom will be playing their first international match, will beat the visitors on Monday," he added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian chief coach Yahya Atan was confident of his team putting up a good performance. "This team had beaten India 2-1 in the just-concluded five-nation championship, and should win the first Test," he added.

Both teams will use the match, as also the remainder of the series, to prepare for the Junior World Cup in Hobart, Australia, in October. India more or less have decided on their team for the October event but will be looking to pick a couple of youngsters from the under-18 probables to strengthen some weak links in the side.

The Indian team for the junior World Cup, from October 9 to 21, will be announced on September 19.

The probables for the junior World Cup:
Devesh Chauhan, Bharat Chettri, Suraj Kanta, Sanmuga Sundaram (all goalkeepers), K P Roy, Jugraj Singh, Kanwalpreet Singh, Vikramjeet Singh, Viren Rasquina, Vikram Pillay, Rajnikant, Sandeep Kumar, Prabodh Tirkey, Prabhdeep Singh, Rajpal Singh, Raju, Inderjeet Singh, Tejbeer Singh, Amarjeet Pratap, Ignius tirkey, Gagan Ajit Singh, Vimal Lakra, Deepak Thakur, Vipin Fernandes, Arjun Hollapa, Saravan Kumar, Prabhjot Singh, Md Nawaz, Vinay Kumar, Sunil Sen, Praveen.