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Sandeep Patil, India’s chairman of selectors, has expressed concerns over the Indian team’s performances, and said the panel has discussed “a few issues” with the team management. The way Ajinkya Rahane is being used – captain one day, carrying drinks the other; batting at No. 3 one day, 6 the other – was definitely one of the issues, but Patil said they discussed other things too. But he said he retained faith in the ODI captain MS Dhoni, the team director Ravi Shastri, and the support staff. India have lost both the Twenty20 internationals to South Africa, and two out of the first three ODIs.”It is not [about being] happy or not happy,” Patil said about India’s performance in the series against South Africa so far. “We are concerned. The two selectors with the Indian team had a word with the team management and the captain. Today also we had a detailed discussion with the captain.”It is not about worrying. Every time they win we feel good. Every time the Indian team lose we feel bad. Nobody is happy about losing the game we should have won. Besides that, we still back the team we have chosen, we still back the ideas, we still back the team management, the support staff. We want them to do well. The areas we felt that needed looking into have been discussed, and I hope that the team management and the captain will give a good thought to it.”Patil was asked whose fault it was that the India captain feels the No 5, 6 and 7 slots are unsettled. Has he not got the teams he wanted or have the selectors not shown enough foresight?”I have said this earlier too, and I’d like to clarify once again, that our jurisdiction is to give the captain the team which not only the captain wants but the team which the selectors feel will do well, looking at the form of that particular player, looking at the slot for which he has been chosen, looking at the opposition,” Patil said. “I think we are still on the same page. Whether it is the captain, whether it is the director, whether it is the team management, the support staff, whether it is the BCCI.”All selectors feel we have picked the best combination. The final selection of the XI is always left to the team management. That’s why earlier when I was asked if we have discussed this issue, yes we discussed this issue, we worried about a few things. I hope things will work better hereafter.”In recent Indian cricket, for the selectors to even discuss these issues and then acknowledge that issues exist is almost unheard of. A necessitating factor could be the way Rahane is being used. The captain has said he is an excellent ODI batsman against the new ball or against the old ball on quick pitches – which basically leaves him either a slot in the already packed top order or none at all. Yet he was played at No. 3 twice, with Virat Kohli having to move down to 4. In those two ODIs he scored 60 off 82 in a chase of 304 and 51 off 63 in India’s first-innings total of 247 for 9. In the third ODI Rahane was moved down, but perhaps because of the rapidly rising asking rate he was pushed all the way down to No. 6.Patil insisted Rahane was not the only matter of concern. “We have discussed not only Ajinkya but other players also with the captain and the team management,” Patil said. “Me and my co-selectors have had a word with the director [Shastri] also. But this is always left to the team management and the captain. We have limitations. We have no complaints but we have limitations. We discuss and we agree to a conclusion, and finally decide the combination of 15 players, but it is always left to them to pick the final XI and the batting and bowling order.”When asked if he was satisfied with the way Rahane was being handled, Patil remained non-committal. “It is not whether I am satisfied or if we are satisfied,” Patil said. “As I said we have full confidence in our captain and team management and the director. We have discussed these issues. Not only regarding Ajinkya Rahane. There were a few more issues. We have discussed them with the team management and the captain. I am sure they will give good thought to it.”

Allan Saint-Maximin and Bruno Guimaraes could start for Newcastle against Southampton on Thursday, according to The Athletic’s Chris Waugh. 

The lowdown

The Magpies travel to the south coast later in the week looking to extend their fine run of form. Eddie Howe’s men beat Brighton 2-1 last time out to make it eight games unbeaten and move seven points clear of the drop zone.

Saint-Maximin hasn’t started since the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa last month, missing two matches with a minor injury before returning as a substitute against the Seagulls.

Meanwhile, Guimaraes has only played 39 minutes across five runouts from the bench since his £40m move from Lyon in January.

The latest

Waugh thinks that Saint-Maximin could make his return to the starting line-up at St Mary’s, with Jacob Murphy dropping to the bench. He also expects Guimaraes to soon get a run of starts given Howe’s inclination to rotate.

In a Q&A for The Athletic, he stated: “In terms of Guimaraes, I think there is a good chance he will start one or more of the next few games, yeah. His composure on the ball may be crucial in away matches, and Howe has already hinted at rotation, so I think there’s a good chance we’ll see him start soon.

“As for Saint-Maximin, he would likely come in for Murphy, I feel. Not today, I suspect, but possibly at Southampton.”

Waugh added that Guimareas could slot in alongside Jonjo Shelvey in a revised 4-2-3-1 shape, stating that the “exciting” system was trialled when the 24-year-old came on against Brentford last month.

The verdict

Newcastle’s return of seven points from the past three matches is all the more impressive when you consider that Saint-Maximin hasn’t been able to start. The Frenchman has recorded more goal involvements (eight – five goals and three assists) than anybody else in the Magpies’ squad this season (via BBC Sport).

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With perhaps their most dangerous player, along with the second-biggest signing in the club’s history, to potentially come into the line-up, they should have more than enough to secure safety in the coming weeks and further extend their already impressive unbeaten run.

In other news, Newcastle have held talks over a move for this rising star

Martin Love has had a ten-month lay-off following his knee reconstruction © Getty Images

Queensland will gain more than 600 games’ worth of first-class experience for their Pura Cup match against Western Australia this week, with Martin Love, Andy Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz all set to return. The Bulls have chosen a 13-man squad for the game that begins in Perth on Friday.Love will be making his first appearance after having a knee reconstruction in January, while Kasprowicz and Bichel both returned from injuries during the weekend’s tour match against the Sri Lankans at Allan Border Field. Kasprowicz is Queensland’s leading Pura Cup wicket-taker of all time and Love is the leading run-scorer, giving a major boost to what had been an inexperienced Bulls line-up.James Hopes is also set to play after he suffered a hamstring injury during his successful ODI trip to India. The Bulls have named a 12-man squad for the FR Cup clash that follows the Pura Cup match on Wednesday.Pura Cup squad Jimmy Maher (capt), Ryan Broad, Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Chris Simpson, James Hopes, Aaron Nye, Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Chris Hartley (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Daniel Doran, Grant Sullivan.Ford Ranger Cup Jimmy Maher (capt), Ryan Broad, James Hopes, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Chris Simpson, Aaron Nye, Nathan Reardon, Ashley Noffke, Chris Hartley (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Grant Sullivan.

Shabbir Ahmed has been out of international cricket since last December © Getty Images

Pakistan are hoping that Shabbir Ahmed, the right-arm seamer, will be cleared by ICC for their tour of South Africa early next year.Shabbir was banned for 12 months for an illegal action after he was reported twice in 2005, the second time coming after the first Test against England at Multan in November. An appeal to get him cleared by the PCB failed.”His ban ends on December 18 before that we will send him to Australia next month to undergo a biomechanical test to confirm there is an improvement in his action,” a board spokesman told Reuters.”We have got an appointment with specialists in Australia and hopefully their report would satisfy the ICC.”Shabbir, who has taken 51 wickets in 10 tests, has had problems with his action since his debut in 1999.

Andrew Leipus: a professional course in sports physiotherapy beckons© Cricinfo

Andrew Leipus, the Indian physio, plans to quit after the tour of Bangladesh in December. Leipus had earlier asked the Indian board to relieve him of his duties with the team as he wanted to spend more time with his family as well as pursue a professional course in sports physiotherapy.Speaking to , Leipus confirmed that he planned to quit after the team completed the Bangladesh tour. “It won’t be after the South Africa series,” he said. “After that the team goes to Bangladesh and there’s not too much gap between the two series. After the Bangladesh tour there is a decent break in play before Pakistan tours India. The time is enough for the BCCI to finalise on another candidate.”Leipus, 34, spoke about how he couldn’t stay on for India’s series against Pakistan. “That’s not possible at all. My Masters course in Sports Physiotherapy at the University of Adelaide beings in February and the Pakistan tour is scheduled in February and March 2005.”He was also surprised at reports that spoke about a communication gap between him and the board. “That was disappointing. There were strange reports in different sections of the media about the BCCI not knowing about my decision to resign. My stand was clear ever since I communicated to the board about not being able to be with the team on a full-time basis.”In his letter to the Indian Board Leipus had suggested that John Gloster, the former Bangladesh physio, be considered as a physio. Gloster, who has also worked with Surrey in the past, spent about two years as the physio of the Bangladesh team, but left them on October 9 when his contract ran out.

Eric Simons: not a happy man © Getty Images

Eric Simons, South Africa’s coach, is seriously considering giving up his job. Upset with the performance of his team in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, Simons has decided to assess his position at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy in England.”If I get to the end of the ICC and I feel it’s not working, then I must go,” he is quoted as saying after South Africa were handed a 313-run thrashing in the second Test in Colombo. Simons stood by his assessment that their performance was “gutless”, according to South Africa’s Sunday Times: “I don’t usually shout and scream but I did after this one. In sport you win some and lose some, but to capitulate the way we did is unacceptable.”Simons recently had his two-year contract with South Africa’s United Cricket Board extended by a year, but said he was under no illusions about his position. “I’ve said all along that I’m examining myself as well. There is only so much a coach can do, and if someone else can do a better job they must get the chance.”We came away from Galle really pleased. I thought we had turned a real corner there,” said Simons, who conceded that his side was a young one and still developing at the highest level. “I’m not using them as excuses, because the South Africa A side would have put up a better performance, but we’ve got a very young top six. Just Herschelle [Gibbs] and Jacques [Kallis] have a lot of experience. Even Graeme Smith, the captain, is young.”Simons also defended the role his support staff have played. “As a management team we’re giving it our best shot … we’re giving the players a lot of information, direction and advice. We ask ourselves all the time, if we could roll the clock back what would we do different. There’s not an awful lot. Especially after a performance like Galle, where we played really well on a spinners’ track, Colombo was doubly frustrating.”And finally, Simons laid down the law. “We are a young side, a learning side, but the one thing that is controllable is guts and determination.”

England have released Robert Key from their NatWest Series squad so that he can play for Kent in their Frizzell County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Maidstone starting on Wednesday. Key, who was also freed to turn out in yesterday’s National League game against Glamorgan, will remain on stand-by for the NatWest Series squad in case of injury.”Following England’s qualification for the NatWest Series final, the selectors have reviewed the composition of the one-day squad," David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, explained. “As was the case with Steve Harmison, who played for Durham last week, we have decided that it would be in England’s best interests if Robert Key were to have some match-practice in the longer form of the game ahead of the forthcoming Test series.”The other 14 players will remain with the squad and continue preparations for the game against South Africa at Edgbaston tomorrow and the NatWest Series final at Lord’s on Saturday. “

DaryllCullinan Photo CricInfo

Daryll Cullinan has been given an unexpected opportunity to reclaim his Test match place with a late inclusion in the South African A team which meets India over four days starting in East London on Saturday.Cullinan, who returned to first-class cricket last weekend following several months out after knee surgery, has been called up to replace Justin Ontong who has withdrawn with a hamstring injury.He top-scored for the Highveld Strikers in both innings of a low-scoring match against Easterns last weekend, but clearly needs to do more to persuade the national selectors that he should regain his place in the Test side. At the same time, the pressure is mounting on Boeta Dippenaar, who batted at five in the first Test against India, scoring 20.At the same time, it is likely that Dippenaar will be given another chance in the second Test, but if he fails again and Cullinan makes runs for the A team, the veteran of 70 Tests will have made a compelling case for his recall.At which point the question of his selection for the tour of Australia will arise. He has suffered through two disappointing tour of Australia in the past, and in any circumstances would not be an automatic choice for a third visit, but if he is the Test match incumbent, it would hard for the selectors not to take him.The position is further clouded by the lack of clarity over Jonty Rhodes. Although he has said that he does not wish to play Test cricket, the official United Cricket Board lines is that he can be called up for Test matches “in an emergency”. Rhodes, who turned out for KwaZulu-Natal in the SuperSport Series last weekend, would quite clearly be a considerable asset in Australia with one middle-order position still not settled. Stretching this further, if a Test series against Australia does not qualify as an “emergency”, then it is difficult to imagine what would.In other changes to the A side, Dale Benkenstein will replace HD Ackerman, who had a shoulder injury, as captain, Garnett Kruger has come in for Charl Willoughby who failed a fitness test on Wednesday Kruger van Wyk has been called up for Thami Tsolekile who has a fractured finger.South African A team: Jacques Rudolph (Northerns), Graeme Smith (WP), Martin van Jaarsveld (Northerns), Daryll Cullinan (Gauteng), Dale Benkenstein (capt, KZN), Justin Kemp (EP), Kruger van Wyk (Northerns), Paul Adams (WP), Charl Langeveldt (Boland), Andre Nel (Easterns),Garnett Kruger (EP). Twelfth man: Gulam Bodi KwaZulu-Natal

Sometimes fairy tales do happen in sport. Geraint Jones, Ashes winner in 2005 turned priceless county pro – via Papua New Guinea – signed off his professional career by being chaired around Lord’s after Gloucestershire secured the Royal London Cup with an epic come-from-behind victory.Jones had dragged Gloucestershire to a competitive total with 50 off 65 balls, using his wealth of experience to assess the conditions, before being bowled as the first of Jade Dernbach’s hat-trick wickets. For 34 overs of Surrey’s chase it appeared Dernbach’s 6 for 35 would be the headline act, but then Kumar Sangakkara clubbed a full toss to mid-on and Gloucestershire, evoking the spirit of the one-day sides which dominated from 1999-2004, strangled Surrey and took the match to the final over.”I just feel very lucky to be honest,” Jones said. “To finish this way, very few people get the chance to walk off holding a trophy and look back on a great day. Personally I couldn’t have asked for any more. Since the knockout stages I’ve been saying to myself, dare to dream and who knows. And it couldn’t have worked out better.”My family was here, although I had to keep batting because the boys had swimming lessons this morning and then had to get the train up so I couldn’t get out until they showed up – that spurred me on. To finish this way, with a group that has given such energy back to my cricket, it’s a pleasurable way to finish.”Jones was not actually on the field the moment the match started to change as Jack Taylor’s full toss found the hands of substitute Will Tavare at mid-on. “Thankfully when I popped off for a toilet break is when Sangakkara hit that ball to Tavs, because I knew they were trying to hit it my way,” he said.”I must admit at half time I was very nervous that we were 15-20 shy especially with the way Sangakarra has been playing. But once we got into it, I knew the way our spinners have been bowling all summer has been exceptional and the wicket was going to be good for them because Batty showed when I was batting that it wasn’t easy to score off them.”Michael Klinger, the Gloucestershire captain, also pinpointed the role of his spinners – Taylor and Tom Smith who combined to take 5 for 85 in 20 overs – plus the unfortunate absence of Zafar Ansari for Surrey as a key part of the match. He said he, too, would have bowled with the 10.30am start but also backed the strength of his team’s bowling if they were able to get a score on the board.”They were a little bit light on their batting playing a lot of allrounders,” he said. “We talked pre-game that if we could get through the top they were quite inexperienced and it just so happened the two wickets we got were the two in batters. We knew it would be tough to score against our spinners. In the end, two spinners was the advantage for us. Unfortunately Ansari’s injury hurt them a little bit as well.”Klinger also paid tribute to Jones. “It was fitting that he was our best batter in his last game and to finish his career the way he did.”For Jones, who celebrated with his children on the outfield as Gloucestershire enjoyed a lengthy lap of honour in front of a large number of travelling supporters, this victory will take a special place in his career highlights.”It’s right up the top, purely for the fact I was able to contribute and the group of lads have added more than I can put into words because they’ve made my last few months in cricket so enjoyable.”He will certainly be remembered for more than just that one catch.

Wolves have been rather impressive in terms of their defensive output in the Premier League this season with just 20 goals conceded in 25 games, leaving only Chelsea and Manchester City with a better record in that department.

Despite this, it seems as though the Midlands club have identified one player that could come in and potentially strengthen their defensive depth.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Wolves are one of the clubs interested in making a move to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £22k-per-week according to Salary Sport.

As a product of Spurs’ youth academy, the 24-year-old has had loan spells at clubs such as Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Swansea City, Stoke City, Luton Town, AFC Bournemouth and Celtic, where he currently is.

Having played the second-highest amount of minutes in the SPFL this season out of any outfield Celtic player, the centre-back has earned himself an impressive overall performance rating of 7.33/10 from WhoScored, making him the fourth-highest rated player at the Scottish club to have started more than five league games.

As well as his impressive overall performances, the centre-back, who has been described as “mature” by Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou and “incredible” by Graeme Jones, has also shown what a capable defender he is by racking up more clearances in the league than any other player at the Parkhead club with an average of 4.7 per game.

From a Wolves point of view, only Romain Saiss (5.3) has managed to rack up a higher average of clearances in the Premier League this season, showing that the Spurs player would be capable of slotting into the Old Gold’s backline.

In addition to this, if the Midlands club were to make a swoop for Carter-Vickers in the summer when his Celtic loan ends, this could give Jeff Shi the chance to finally get rid of one of the current centre-backs at Molineux that hasn’t been a particularly prominent figure for Lage this season.

At 31-years-old, Willy Boly – who has played 137 total games for the club – has not made a single appearance in the Premier League this season due to some injury issues, which have apparently left the defender “frustrated” according to Lage, as well as the solid form of Saiss, Conor Coady and Max Kilman.

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With that in mind, it could be worth Wolves bringing in the 6 foot 1 Tottenham loanee in the summer as a potential long-term replacement for Boly if they think it’s the right time to bring his time at the club to an end.

In other news: Forget Hwang: “Phenomenal” Wolves gem who won 77% duels was Lage’s shining light v AFC – opinion