SPORTS DIGEST:CRICKET: Michael Hussey anchored Australia to a commanding first-innings score of 430 with a century on the second day of the first Test against India in Bangalore yesterday.

In reply, hosts India made a confident start by reaching 68 without loss at stumps, drawn earlier because of rain.

Hussey scored a patient 146, following up on skipper Ricky Ponting’s first-day century (123).The visitors lost Shane Watson early on day two to lively paceman Ishant Sharma, who finished with four for 77, after Australia resumed on 254 for four.

But Hussey, playing his first test in India, displayed steadfast purpose to lift Australia out of a tight corner with a crucial 91-run stand with Brad Haddin (33) for the sixth wicket.

RUGBY: England outhalf Jonny Wilkinson has revealed he expects to be out of action for at least another five months. Wilkinson has undergone surgery after dislocating a knee last week but there were reports suggesting he could be back in action early next year.

The news is a huge blow for the injury-plagued 29-year-old and puts his participation in the Six Nations Championship and British and Irish Lions tour in doubt. The Newcastle player has suffered a multitude of problems since helping England win the World Cup in 2003.

Wilkinson’s good form in the early part of this season had offered great hope of an international future and he insists his career is far from over despite admitting his latest setback is his worst yet. He said: “I’ll just nail one thing, though: the idea that this might be the end of my playing career. Forget it. It’s not a consideration. When I did the knee, against Gloucester last week, I was actually quite positive and thinking it would be just one month. Obviously it didn’t quite pan out that way, but I have no doubt I’ll be back.”

He added: “For starters, this is the most debilitating injury I’ve had and the most painful post-surgery, too. Rehabilitating from the operation on my neck in 2004 was very tough and on my shoulder this summer made it hard to sleep, and I’ve had other knee problems before, but I’ve never had to move so slowly and cautiously and I’ve always had enough movement, even when on crutches, to carry things with me.”

ATHLETICS: Former US track star Tim Montgomery, an Olympic gold medallist now banned from the sport, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison on heroin charges.

Montgomery, once known as the fastest man alive, was sentenced in Federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, according to a court document. He had pleaded guilty to the charges in July.

Last May, Montgomery was sentenced to 46 months in prison for a cheque fraud and money-laundering scheme in which he tried to deposit three cheques worth €576,384. That case also ensnared his former girlfriend the sprinter Marion Jones, who was sentenced to six months for misleading investigators about the cheque-fraud scheme and lying about her steroid use.

GOLF: Any remote hopes Ireland had of clinching a medal at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy in Adelaide disappeared yesterday.

With the best Irish card being a 76 returned by Curtis Cup reserve Danielle McVeigh the team slipped to joint 23rd in the 48-strong field with a 54-hole aggregate of 456 – some 24 strokes adrift of the runaway leaders, Sweden.

McVeigh, from Royal County Down, knocked in a 15-foot putt for a birdie four at the long sixth and got up and down at the next for another birdie which appeared to provide momentum for the Northern Ireland player.

But unfortunately on the homeward stretch she struggled to maintain her earlier form, had trouble in bunkers and on the greens and slumped to five bogeys.

Carlow’s Tara Delaney posted a 77 after a round of ups and downs.

Sweden are set for gold with Spain, Japan and USA the main challengers for the other medals.

RUGBY: South African’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) will consult everyone involved before making any decision on dropping the Springbok emblem. The party intends to consult all stakeholders, including supporters.

The future of the Springbok emblem was cast in doubt on Thursday with the announcement that the Parliamentary Sports Portfolio Committee had called for it to be scrapped in favour of the protea, the country’s national flower. South African Rugby Union (Saru) president Oregan Hoskins defended the Springbok emblem. “Rugby believes that the Springbok emblem is actually a force for unity in this country and anyone who saw the tens of thousands of South Africans of all races flock to welcome back the World Cup-winning Springboks last October couldn’t but conclude that the public had voted loud and clear on just what they think about the Springbok emblem,” he said.

MOTOR SPORT: World champion Sébastien Loeb captured the lead in the Tour of Corsica rally with a clean sweep of the opening day’s timed stages yesterday.

The Frenchman, who stands an outside chance of sealing a record fifth consecutive world title this weekend, was fastest in all of the day’s six stretches on narrow, winding asphalt roads on the Mediterranean island.

Citroën could also wrap up the manufacturers’ title.