Back after hockey ban, Kookaburra Craig shines again
Tom Craig is celebrating a "new chapter", proving to be the Kookaburras' hockey hero again some 10 months since being thrown out of the Olympics after being arrested on suspicion of trying to buy cocaine during the Paris Games.
A humbled Craig said it meant everything to him to score the winner for the Australian men's side in their remarkable 3-2 comeback victory against India in the Belgian city of Antwerp on Saturday.
The striker's player-of-the-match show was the highlight of a double Australian success in the FIH Hockey Pro League, with the Hockeyroos defeating India's women's team by the same scoreline 90 minutes later 400km away in London.
Last August, Craig ended up apologising for his "terrible mistake" on a night out following his team's elimination in Paris for which he ended up receiving a six-month ban from Hockey Australia, with another six months suspended.
The star 29-year-old striker from Lane Cove hadn't been sure if he'd even get back into the squad after his "heartbreaking" exile but, "amazingly grateful" to be chosen, he repaid the faith by powering back to his best for the national team on his 143rd appearance.
Two down to goals from India's Olympic bronze medallist striker Abhishek Nain, the Aussies hit back with Craig inspiring the momentum shift as Victorian forward Nathan Ephraums first reduced the deficit in the third quarter.
Then Queensland forward Joel Rintala, on his own return after 430 days out with a series of injuries, hammered the equaliser five minutes from time, his ninth goal in just seven internationals.
As Australia surged in the final quarter, Craig struck in the final 39 seconds, expertly deflecting Jeremy Hayward's penalty corner into the net to seal a memorable victory.
"I'm just happy to be back, I'm always so grateful for the opportunity to play for Australia," said an elated Craig.
"It's a new chapter that's for sure, both personally and for this team. I've been welcomed back so graciously, and I'm just so grateful, it means everything, and it feels so good to be back out there."
An hour-and-a-half later, the Hockeyroos pulled off another 3-2 triumph in style at the Lee Valley Olympic centre in London, with goals from Courtney Schonell (16 min), Lexie Pickering (22) and a penalty corner strike from Tatum Stewart (35) putting them three up before a late rally from India.
It was a terrific comeback after the Australians had been hammered by an aggregate of 13-2 in their two previous League encounters by a mighty Netherlands team.
Pickering, who netted her first international goal in her third appearance, said she was "confident it's the start of many more to come."
The Hockeyroos had to hold firm in the dying stages to keep out India as they threatened an equaliser.
"We didn't make it easy for ourselves in the end there," admitted player-of-the-match Alice Arnott. "But I'm incredibly proud of us and of that win."
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