The Indian men's hockey team is on the come back after years in the doldrums and all the reports this writer has been sent, has revealed there is anew era dawning for the Indian team in their opaque blue shirts.
Pakistan meanwhile are also on the come back after losing to Australia in the Junior Olympics hockey final in Singapore two months ago and the word was out, that the Pakistan side, is back on track.
In years past, when there was political turmoil in Pakistan, their hockey team performed miserably, however they seem to have moved on in this regard as Pakistan is in perennial political dramas of one sort or another.
Australia are the team in scintillating form having won the 2009 Champions Trophy in Melbourne, the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi and the 2010 Champions Trophy in Germany, beating England 4-0 in that final.
No team is more aware of how close international pool round results are than Australia and one goal may be the difference between victory and an early exit.
England are in Pool B along with New Zealand, a considerably easier pool and with both teams competing in the 2010 Champions Trophy, it seems likely they will go through.
The competition results and points can followed on the Wikipedia web site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_at_the_2010_Commonwealth_Games
Commonwealth Games Men's Hockey Competition which commences on 5 October in New Delhi, India.
Pool A
Australia
India
Pakistan
Malaysia
Scotland
Pool B
England
New Zealand
Canada
South Africa
Triniad and Tobago