Moreover, there are two Australians as coaches, the indomitable Ric Charlesworth the Kookaburras coach whose hockey pedigree is as long as your arm, plus a bit more, and the Athens Olympic Gold Medallist Kookaburra Coach Barry Dancer.
Both Charlesworth and Dancer were Olympians, both won Silver Medals way back in 1968 Montreal when beaten 0-1 by New Zealand witnessing the dominance of Australasian hockey across the world. This is something which has been reasonably maintained.
The Mumbai Magicians are under the helm of Charlesworth while the Jaypee Punjab Warriors have Dancer in charge. Other franchised teams, not that dissimilar to Cricket's IPL have such classical names as the Ranchi Rhinos, Uttar Pradesh Wizards and the Delhi Wave Riders.
The Hockey India League runs from next week through to 10 February. Australia has 15 imports, while the Netherlands and Pakistan have 9 each and other nation's are less represented. Each franchise is allowed 10 imports in a squad of 24 including mandated under/18 young Indian up and comers.
Indian hockey stars two of the highest bids: captain Sardar Singh, a $78,000 price tag to the Delhi Wave Riders while Uttar Pradesh Wizards bought ace drag-flicker V.R. Raghunath for $76,000. (sports.ndtv.com/othersports)
Australia's most valued player in terms of dollar payment is, as expected, Jamie Dwyer $78,200. Netherlands Teun De Nooijer $87,400 and Germany's Moritz Fuertse $83,950 are the top dollar men followed by Australia's Jamie Dwyer.
A full list of the fifteen Australians playing in the Hockey India League along with team lists and the player's purchase values can be viewed at:
http://www.hockey.org.au/index.php?id=90&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1162&tx_ttnews[backPid]=88&cHash=53af446caa
Images of the Hockey India League may be viewed on google images.
Hockey India League has much valued excitement to the purist hockey fan. Enjoy!
