British press hails Pataudi

8216;The Times8217; newspaper also praised Pataudi,who breathed his last yesterday after battling a lung infection for the past few weeks. He was 70.

8220;More than mere statistics,his importance was in instilling in his team the belief 8212; after years when it was regarded as one of the lesser Test countries 8212; that it could succeed,8221; 8216;The Times8217; wrote today.

8220;He was adamant that India should play to its strengths,and in particular,to make use of its unique talent in spin bowling. Playing three spinners,rare for any Test side,became the orthodoxy. Modest about his own ability,he saw his role as extracting the maximum for his best players by making them realise their true worth,8221; the newspaper said.

Pataudi is survived by his wife,a son and two daughters.