Melbourne, Mar 4 : While recession-hit companies are increasingly issuing pink slips to their employees, a recent survey has detailed a list of dos and don''ts on how to lay off workers.

The survey, by the US-based Human Capital Institute of more than 300 global corporate executives, has produced advice on best and worst practice to lay off workers.

Sydney, Mar 4 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and his South African counterpart Graeme Smith expressed support for the video-referral system after Australia’s 162-run victory in the first Test at Johannesburg.

Ponting revealed Hot Spot technology would be used for the remainder of the series against South Africa to assist the video umpire.

Melbourne, Mar. 4 : Left-hander David Warner will make his first-class debut for New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match after opener Phil Jaques dropped out due to back soreness.

The 22-year-old Australian opener in Twenty20 matches will bat in the middle order, with Ed Cowan filling the opening position.

In 2009, Warner became the third player in the history of Australian cricket to make an international début before playing a first-class game.

Warner made a sensational international debut against South Africa in the Twenty20 game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Melbourne, Mar 04 : Although late Hollywood actor Heath Ledger recently won an Oscar for his portrayal of `The Joker' in `The Dark Knight', his final flick `The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' has not been able to find any distributors.

It seems that the publicity surrounding Heath's Oscar win has no affect on the distributors, as `The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus' if facing difficulty finding American distributors.

Melbourne, Mar 04 : Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice is currently looking after her shoulder injury to make certain that it doesn’t worsen.

Rice cut back on her butterfly training in a bid to avert aggravating an inflamed right shoulder.

However, her coach Michael Bohl is confident the problem is not serious, and will not prevent Rice from contesting her heavy program at the trials, starting in Sydney on March 17.

"It just flares up from time to time,'''' the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

Powered by a tidy bowling performance, India registered a comprehensive 23-run victory over South Africa in their women's World Cup warm-up fixture in Sydney on Tuesday.

Batting first, the star studded Indian team could only score 167 runs in 45.3 overs.

Opening batsman Anjum Chopra top scored with 53. In a 107 ball knock, Chopra scored 73 runs for the second wicket with former skipper Mithali Raj, who scored a crucial 29 runs.

For South Africa, pace bowler Shabnim Ismail took 4 wickets for 35 runs.