India, Australia skipper MS Dhoni and Michael Clarke unveiled the Border-Gavaskar 2013 Test series winner trophy on Wednesday. — PTI

Among the quartet of spinners, Ravindra Jadeja bowled the maximum while Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha also spent a fair bit of time bowling to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. Senior pro Harbhajan Singh also bowled for some time but didn't bowl as much compared to the other three spinners. — PTI

Gavaskar bats for Tests

Emphasising the significance of Test cricket when the slam-bang T20 format is gaining huge popularity, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar today asked the game's administrators to ensure that the longer version of the game remains the "pinnacle" of the sport. Delivering the inaugural MAK Pataudi memorial lecture, instituted in the memory of former charismatic Indian captain who passed away in 2001, Gavaskar reminded the cricket administrators their duty to ensure the survival of Test cricket. "Test cricket is the pinnacle. That's the format through which you will be recognised. It's how you do at Test level. Out of 10 Test playing nations, four or five are major Test countries, who should ensure that Test cricket remains pinnacle," said Gavaskar with ICC CEO Dave Richardson in attendance. "It is Test cricket which separates men from boys, I would request all administrators to look into it," the batting great said. None of the members of Pataudi's family was present on the occasion as his wife Sharmila Tagore was indisposed. The Indian and Australian cricket teams also attended the lecture as Gavaskar shared some interesting stories about Patuadi and his charismatic character. Gavaskar said Pataudi liberated the Indian cricket by bringing the element of aggression in the side, which would take beating from any team hands down. With his typical tongue-in-cheek style, Gavaskar said the a big incentive in his playing days was the chance to date glamours women from tinsel town while for today's cricketers it may be playing in the IPL. The comment drew smiles on the faces of both Indian and Australian young cricketers, listening to Gavaskar. — PTI

Chennai, February 20
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson on Tuesday confirmed that he would bat at number 4 in the first Test against India in Chennai starting this Friday, if everything goes well.

"If everyone is fit, then yes (No. 4), that's the way the selection is likely to go with Michael and Mickey figuring it out. Considering everything that's happened over the last 12 months, especially, I can see why they might want to go that way.

"In the end, I've got as much experience batting in these conditions whether in the middle-order or at the top of the order, so Michael and I will play a very important part in this series in terms of batting in that middle-order because it can be difficult."

The 31-year-old said that he along with skipper Michael Clarke will have to shoulder the bulk of responsibility in the absence of recently-retired Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey. “I've played a lot of cricket here and met with a lot of success too. We've got quite a young group here, so I guess I am one of the people who would help out as much as I can so we play as well as we can in these conditions, I suppose," Watson said at a media session here on Friday.

“Now, with Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting not here, Michael Clarke and me are the senior players, we've played the most cricket here. We'll certainly help out the young guys who haven't had an opportunity to play out here before.

“It's very different to playing in Australia in terms of finding a game plan that will give us the best chance of having success here,” he added. Watson said they would take a cue from the way England successfully countered the Indian spinners this winter. "England certainly showed that and the guys who got big runs made it easier for the others. — PTI

Moises Henriques

Mark Waugh wants ‘Inexperienced’ Aussies to spend time on wicket

Former batsman Mark Waugh, who made three Test tours of India and was a fine player of the type of probing slow bowling Australia will face in Friday''s first Test in Chennai, has claimed spending time at crease would be crucial for the visiting team''s inexperienced batting line up.

In exclusive interview with News.com.au, Waugh said Australia has a very inexperienced batting line-up in the Indian conditions, adding there is only one way to improve, and that is to play in those conditions. Waugh added hopefully two or three of the batsmen can play well, and he added it is hard to improve overnight, but if you are playing for Australia you have talent. Waugh said a player should be able to adapt to the conditions, adding it is about handling the pressure and spending time at the crease, and it is very difficult initially when you go out to bat. Waugh also backed Shane Watson to open for Australia, particularly in India since he is a little bit vulnerable coming in against spin. — Agencies

Napier, February 20
Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott brought up confident half centuries as England beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the second limited-overs international to level the three-match series at 1-1.

New Zealand's former captain Ross Taylor made 100 and present captain Brendon McCullum 74 as the home side was dismissed for 269 after being sent in to bat at McLean Park. England skipper Cook scored with 78, Root made an unbeaten 79 and Jonathan Trott reached 65 not out as the tourists chased down the total with 14 balls to spare. The deciding match is in Auckland on Saturday.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 269 all out in 49.5 ov (L Taylor 100, Mc Cullum 74, Anderson 5/34, C Woakes 3/68); England: 270/2 in 47.4 ov (J Root 79, A Cook 78, I Trott 65, K Williamson 1/39, T Southee 1/ 54). — PTI

Sydney, February 21
“Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius returned to court on Wednesday to hear explosive allegations that he fought "non-stop" with his slain girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on the night of her killing.

With the South African sporting hero already facing a tough fight to win bail, the prosecution presented police evidence to flesh out the charge he deliberately murdered the cover girl on Valentine's Day.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that an unnamed witness "heard talking that sounded like non-stop fighting from two to three in the morning" shortly before Steenkamp was found dead at Pistorius's Pretoria home last Thursday.

Detective Hilton Botha said 29-year-old Steenkamp was shot three times through the bathroom door, with wounds to her head, elbow and hip. Botha said the shots were not fired straight at the toilet door, but rather "directly to the toilet, the basin itself."

"If you walk in directly and fire straight at the door you will miss the toilet," he said, suggesting Pistorius had been aiming. Steenkamp, who had been going out with Pistorius since late last year, was declared dead shortly before 4:15 am on February 14 by medics and was found covered in towels and wearing white shorts and a black vest.

Botha also said 26-year-old Pistorius would face an additional charge of possessing unlicensed .38 special calibre ammunition. At Tuesday's hearing, the Olympic and Paralympic track star had tearfully denied premeditated murder, a charge that risks a life sentence.

Pistorius told the court he shot at Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door, mistakenly believing she was a burglar. "I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," he said.

With only the suspect and the victim in the house at the time of the killing, the state's case is expected to focus heavily on forensic evidence and witnesses who are alleged to have heard the couple argue.

Nel had argued on Tuesday that Pistorius deliberately fired four shots into the bathroom door after putting on his prosthetic legs, hitting a terrified Steenkamp three times and fatally wounding her.

“She could go nowhere,” Nel said. “She locked the door for a purpose.”

On Tuesday the double amputee track star broke down in tears repeatedly as his own words from his own affidavit filled the court: "We were deeply in love and couldn't be more happy.

"I am absolutely mortified by the events and the devastating loss of my beloved Reeva," he said in his first public comments on the killing.

As the court hearing proceeded Tuesday, Steenkamp was laid to rest at an emotional private ceremony at a crematorium in her hometown of Port Elizabeth.

Pistorius was an inspiration to millions when he became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics in London last year.

Pistorius said he had awoken in the dead of night when he heard a noise at his upscale home in a gated Pretoria estate

"Filled with horror and fear" that someone was in the bathroom, he said he felt "very vulnerable" because he did not have his prosthetic legs on. — AFP

Chandigarh, February 21
Jeev Milkha Singh did not participate in the ongoing 2013 PGTI Players Championship which is currently being played at the Chandigarh Golf Course, but he was present as a friend and guiding force to all the local professionals who regularly play and practice with him.

The Chandigarh professional who won the Scottish Open on the European Tour last summer could be seen watching his local fellow professionals and encouraging them to make more birdies and card better scores.

“It is wonderful to see so many youngsters playing the sport and there is a lot of talent in the game now," said Jeev who flew out this evening in order to keep a prior commitment.

“Chandigarh is my home course and I play and practice with a lot of the young professionals so it is natural for me to want to come out and see how they are doing," he adds. Jeev has impacted national and local golf more than any other golfer from the city. Young children look up to him - he is an excellent role model, always conscious of his responsibility towards the sport.

Professional golfers often consult him for advice and respect his opinion on matters connected with the game as well as their equipment. Both respect his achievements and regard him to be the best ambassador of the game. “The game has given me a lot and I feel that I would like to give back to the sport in any way that I can,” says Jeev.

Gurbaaz Mann adds: “we learn a lot from Jeev, his approach towards the game and how he conducts himself on and off the course.”

Randhir Singh Ghotra who was encouraged to go on and make birdies during his round today when he crossed Jeev standing near the 13th green says, “he is a positive influence on us and even when we play together he is constantly pushing us to do better. He has been on the course during the last two days just watching us and enquiring about how everyone is doing.”

His brother Ranjit Singh adds: “there is a lot we have learnt from Jeev sir over the years and he continues to be a source of inspiration for us. It is a privilege for us to be able to learn from the maturity and experience which he has to offer.”

Harjinder Kang, a leading amateur who recently played a Pro-Am with Jeev during the Volvo Tournament of Champions in South Africa says, “Jeevs impact on the game has been huge and golf in Chandigarh is where it is all because of him. He is an excellent ambassador for the game and the city.”

New Delhi, February 20
Indian men maintained their high-scoring feat to trounce Oman 9-1 to record their second victory in the World Hockey League Round 2 at the National Stadium.

The hosts once again showed their prowess in converting penalty corners as the first two goals came off corners when VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh hit the target with uncanny accuracy in the second and 14th minutes, respectively. Nitin Thimmaiah made it 3-0 with a solo field goal.