Australia coach Barry Dancer said despite frequent changes in the team management, Indian hockey has hardly witnessed any improvement.

Asked to spell out the difference between the Indian team's performance at the 18th Commonwealth Games in Melbourne earlier this year and now, Dancer said he did not see any.

"I don't think there is any change in their playing structure. But I presume they will be a different team at the World Cup," Dancer told reporters after Australia thrashed India 4-1 in the Azlan Shah hockey opener in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The Aussie coach expressed satisfaction with his team's performance in the first match.

"We controlled the match right through except for the brief period when we missed Livermore due to a yellow card suspension. I was satisfied the way we performed today though we need to improve in a few areas," he said.

India coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran was unhappy with the sloppy work by the defenders which compelled the team to adopt a cautious approach.

"The two soft goals early in the match put us on the defensive. Also we were guilty of missing at least three scoring chances," he said.

"Three of the four goals were scored from the centre zone as our marksmen were not up to the mark.

"Viren Rasquinha had a bad game and overall we need to show more discipline, especially in deep defence," the coach remarked, adding "we hope to regroup and put on a better show against Malaysia tomorrow."

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