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Sandeep Patil, the India A coach, has revealed that he recommended Dinesh Karthik ahead of MS Dhoni when consulted by the national selection panel before they picked the squad for India’s three one-day tournaments. Patil, speaking to Wisden Cricinfo from his Shivaji Park residence in Mumbai, believes that Karthik would make an ideal No. 6 for both Tests and one-dayers. But that’s not all: Patil also unearths a medium-pacer who takes five-fors on flat decks, and an opener who scores big:

Sandeep Patil: ‘I will be proved right about Karthik’© Getty Images

How would you compare Karthik and Dhoni?
I feel Dinesh Karthik is an ideal No. 6 batsman for Tests and one-dayers, and he is in the mould of Adam Gilchrist, Moin Khan and Romesh Kaluwitharana – who can win a match on his own. I can’t say the same thing about the other Indian wicketkeepers in the recent past. If Karthik is given the same number of chances as Parthiv Patel, I will be proved right. I recommended Karthik to the selectors, but it was a very close call. Dhoni is also a safe wicketkeeper, and Dhoni produced two brilliant hundreds. Geoffrey Boycott wasn’t impressed with Dhoni in the training camp at Bangalore, but I told him not to get discouraged since his style was unique.Sairaj Bahutule was the star performer. But where do you see his career going from here on?
He is dead serious to play for India. In fact, he told me that “I will definitely play for India now.” He led Mumbai last season, and suddenly he has taken the step that he has to do something extra to replace Anil Kumble. He got a chance when Kumble was injured – now he wants to replace Kumble when he is bowling well.Who were the other players to catch your eye?
The two surprise packages of the tour were Dhoni and Dheeraj Jadhav [the opening batsman from Maharashtra who topped the batting charts last season]. I had heard that Jadhav was slow with his run-scoring, but he scored almost 160 in a day against Kenya. He smashed a hundred in a session the next day and finished on 260 not out. I wouldn’t put him ahead of Aakash Chopra, but he poses a big threat.And the bowlers?
Bahutule was fantastic, but Shib Shankar Paul was another surprise performer. He got five wickets consistently on really flat wickets in Harare. People say that players from weaker states make it to the side through the back door. But Paul proved that wrong with his performance.Any disappointments at all?
Munaf Patel, the fast bowler from Mumbai, was a big disappointment. He developed a shoulder injury and I see it more of a mental problem than physical. The physio checked Munaf and said everything was OK. But he could not bowl and finish his spells. He played one-and-a-half matches in a one-and-a-half-month tour.Do you think the quality of the reserve team is getting closer to that of the national team?
Last year, six players from the A team played for the senior team. This year, Karthik has played. This tells me that this concept is working out well. If any senior player has to be replaced, there is a ready substitute available.What about the fitness standards of the players?
I would still say that they are more gym-fit than match-fit. There is no need of going to the gym after you score a 200 or take five wickets. They will be better off if the same energy can be used in a match to score a fifty or take three wickets.What about your own future as a coach?
I get appointed only on a tour-to-tour basis. For the past one year, I have been asking BCCI to inform me in advance so that I can plan my own programme. But it is not happening. When India A played against New Zealand at Rajkot last year, the board secretary called me on the eve of the match and asked me to join the team. That is unfair.

Alec Stewart has criticised the decision to allow county teams to pick two overseas players each, saying that England’s chances of international success had been damaged”We’ve got two top-class overseas internationals at Surrey this year in [Pakistanis] Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq,” Stewart told Monday’s edition of the London Evening Standard. “But for the good of English cricket I would like only one per team, especially when you consider some counties already have several players who can earn a living here because they hold European passports but are noteligible for our England teams.”Stewart, England’s most-capped player in both Test (126 matches) andone-day internationals (170 matches), said the situation had changedradically since he was a young player at The Oval, 22 seasons ago.”When I started out, counties could have two overseas players. But we’re talking about some of the greats, such as Malcolm Marshall and Gordon Greenidge at Hampshire and Viv Richards and Joel Garner with Somerset. Now there are not 36 top-class star players available to the 18 counties because of the amount of international cricket being played around the world all year round.””So people are simply signing players for the sake of signing them. What they should be saying is `let’s get the best available and then try to turn a promising English player into a very good player’. We are the only country that imports really. All I want is for us to be the best and I don’t think we should be helping other countries too much atour expense.”Stewart’s England place has been up for discussion ahead of next week’sfirst Test against Zimbabwe at Lord’s. Some pundits have suggested that now is the moment to end Stewart’s long international career, with Chris Read and James Foster the favourites to take his place.But Stewart is well-used to being written off: “England should now look to the future for the one-dayers. But as for the Tests, pick me.”The squad is due to be announced on Saturday.

Middlesex batsmen Simon Cook and James Dalrymple fashioned an unlikely Middlesex victory with a vicious late assault on the Hampshire bowling at the Rose Bowl.Cook and Dalrymple smashed 65 in only six overs as Hampshire threw away a winning position of their own and leaves them outsiders for promotion with only one match to play.Cook was merciless as Hampshire fell away under the barrage. Even their England bowler Alan Mullally came in for some heavy punishment with 19 runs coming off his penultimate over as 35 came from the last 13 balls of the match.A Middlesex victory looked remote when Paul Weekes was fifth out at 151 leaving Middlesex needing 70 to win in six overs. But then Cook and Dalrymple got going to ensure a Middlesex victory by four wickets and with five balls to spare.Earlier Giles White and John Francis each scored half-centuries as Hampshire built a solid total of 220 for 9. Weekes took three leg wickets to finish with three for 37 while White’s 59 was his top score in the competition this season. Francis confirmed his potential with an unbeaten 57, which was made off 83 balls.There was nothing about the start to the Middlesex innings, which suggested alarm for Hampshire later with Andrew Strauss and John Maunders dispatched with 30 on the board.Owais Shah and Irishman Ed Joyce put together a stand of 98 for the third wicket but in 22 overs and once Shah had gone for a brisk 69 off 100 balls, he was swiftly followed by Joyce who gave Shaun Udal a comfortable return catch.This merely opened the way for big-hitting Cook and the inexperienced Dalrymple to seize the initiative from Hampshire and although Dalrymple was out in Chris Tremlett’s last over the damage was done.David Nash was at the other end as Cook struck Mullally’s first delivery at the last over for four to complete Hampshire’s humiliation.

The State selectors have included Jo Angel in the Western Warriors teamto play the SA Redbacks, for the ING Cup game at the Adelaide Oval thisFriday.Angel returns to the Western Warriors ING Cup team to replace BradOldroyd, who has been ruled unfit to play, due to concussion.Oldroyd suffered concussion following a collision with Peter McIntyre,while bowling during the Warrior’s outright victory over the Redbacks,in the Pura Cup game at the Adelaide Oval earlier today.As a precautionary measure, Warriors Team Manager Ron Bowe, followingthe collision, took Oldroyd to hospital. Oldroyd has suffered concussionat least three times previously.Bowe will monitor Oldroyd’s condition during the next twenty-four hourperiod following the injury. Another appraisal of his condition will bemade at 10.00am tomorrow morning.Warriors Team – ING Cup:

• SIMON KATICH (Capt)
• MICHAEL HUSSEY (Vice Capt)
• JO ANGEL
• RYAN CAMPBELL
• MURRAY GOODWIN
• KADE HARVEY
• STUART KARPPINEN
• BRAD HOGG
• MATT NICHOLSON
• MARCUS NORTH
• CHRIS ROGERS
• BRAD WILLIAMS

Kenny will be hoping to build on last week’s impressive showing against City when they face-off against Fulham on Monday night. Dalglish will be hoping for a repeat of their last visit to Craven Cottage where the Reds ran riot last time.

At FFC this week it’s there has been plenty of Liverpool blogs that include the Reds Academy struggle; Kenny having the last laugh over transfer, Liverpool look leaner and meaner.

We also look at other Liverpool articles from around the Web:

EXCLUSIVE – Martin Skrtel talks to Football FanCast

Leaner, meaner Liverpool continue to make huge strides

Kenny should be more than just King on Merseyside

‘Long To Reina Over Us’ – The goalkeeping dynasty of Miguel and Pepe

Liverpool slowly having the last laugh over transfer

An indictment of the success of Kenny’s signings, as it is on Suarez’s quality in the final third

Liverpool linked with shock move

Kenny eyes £20m January swoop to bolster attack

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L4L Exclusive – we interview Rob Jones and Mark Wright – Live4Liverpool

Similar Result, Different Perspective – This is Anfield

The Challenge Facing Jay Spearing – Anfield Index

Let’s sing a different tune about Carroll – Our Kop

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France will be looking to continue their post-World Cup revival when they meet Luxembourg in Euro 2012 qualifying on Friday.France, who currently occupy top spot in Group D, have undergone a regeneration under new coach Laurent Blanc, unbeaten in their last five matches including victories over England and Brazil in recent friendlies.

Under the guidance of Blanc, there has been a telling air of optimism generated on and off the field, and none off the squabbling and drama which plagued the side during the tenure of previous manager Raymond Domenech.

They will be banking on prolific marksman Karim Benzema extending his good run of form in front of goal for club and country when they travel to the Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg on Friday.

The Real Madrid striker is beginning to live up to his 35-million-euro price tag, bagging 22 goals in all competitions for Real, in addition his recent tally with the national setup.

The 23-year-old also scored in the corresponding game against Luxembourg in France in October.

The other major talking point during the week has been the return of Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery to the national team setup, after serving suspensions for their role in player strike in South Africa.

Luxembourg, while not expected to mount a sizeable challenge against the French, enter the game in good spirits after surprising Slovakia in a friendly last month, courtesy of a Daniel da Mota double.

However, they are rooted to the bottom of the group, having recorded only a solitary point in qualifying so far and failing to score in their four Group D games.

The less-fancied Luxembourg are widely expected to deploy a defensive tactic against their opponents, with Laurent Blanc saying during the week he expects to confront a team with “one up front and practically nine at the back ? 10 including the goalkeeper.”

When Roy Hodgson was asked the question about Fernando Torres’ future, he suggested that he was in the dark about it and the media should look to Christian Purslow for answers as he is the one that has been in Spain negotiating with the striker. I found that a little confusing, but at least it explains where the problem lies.

If Torres needed convincing that his future should remain at Anfield then it goes without saying that Roy Hodgson would be the man camped in Spain talking with Torres; I mean with respect to Purslow, he is hardly the man to be talking tactics and grand plan’s with. No the negotiations must surely be financial and if that is the case, this is one deal we cannot afford to baulk on.

Hodgson eluded in the same interview that the discussions with Torres are over issues prior to his arrival. If that is the case then that is extremely reassuring and shows that he remains content at Anfield and the only problems are all contractual; I am sure his terms are likely to have changed, given the reported interest from City and Chelsea, but can we as a football club really afford not to reach a compromise? Failing to agree terms and allowing Torres to move on is one thing, but how the hell do you go about replacing him? The club need to move quickly to resolve this issue, so Hodgson has every opportunity to get the squad ready for what is an incredibly important season for Liverpool football club. Torres would play a huge part in that process and therefore it is vital he is retained at Anfield.

Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer

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Arsene Wenger has never been a man to advocate panic buying and despite his claims that the summer’s transfer dealings at Arsenal weren’t born out of panic signing four players in the last few days of the window, two of them without medicals, suggests otherwise. So, what difference have those signings made? With the exception of Mikel Arteta, who has played a vital role in Arsenal’s recovery deputising for the injured Jack Wilshere, and Gervinho (seven assists, two goals) how much of an impact have the new signings really made so far?

Per Mertesacker

With a name that roughly translates as ‘meat sack’ you could be forgiven for viewing the giant German as some kind large inanimate object whose primary purpose was to obstruct attackers using only his physical presence. However on the whole he hasn’t even done that with much conviction. At fault for two goals against Chelsea and again at the weekend in Norwich the hugely experienced international’s performances have left many preferring to see Koscielny paired with Vermaelen at the back, and rightly so. However the acquisition of the former Werder Bremen man will seem better value as he adapts to life in the Premier League. Koscielny’s first season at the club suggested that he wasn’t cut out for life in England but his performances this season have much better and at times brilliant.

Andre Santos

Another defender that needs time to adapt; the Brazilian might not be the player that Arsenal fans want him to be (he can’t defend) but he is at least covering for the perpetually injured Gibbs. His attacking presence has been worthy of a place in the team so far and whilst he might lack certain necessary qualities the Brazilian was bought to add depth to the squad. Unless something changes radically about Santos’ play I think we can expect to see Gibbs back in the team when he has recovered.

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Yossi Benayoun

Largely anonymous, potentially past it; the Israeli captain has barely been used by Wenger so far. But then again: no money was paid for him. Benayoun is a panic buy if ever I’ve seen one. However that doesn’t make him useless. Far from it. Yossi’s versatility means that he can be, and has been, used on the wing or in the centre and his work ethic and defensive ability should provide an example for some of the lazier wingers at the club. He potentially has a part to play for Arsenal this year but he will not get a run in the team unless they are ravaged by injuries. Perhaps Wenger had Gervinho’s absence due to the African Nations in mind when he signed Benayoun.

Park Chu Young

Used sparingly, largely unimpressive. Park’s goal in the Carling Cup against Bolton gave Arsenal fans a glimpse of what could be, but he has failed to produce on his two other appearances. The Korean, like the rest of Arsenal’s new signings, needs time to adjust but he recently told Arsenal that physically he was ready to give his best.

Youngsters

Oxlade-Chamberlain has shown what he could be capable of with some brilliant performances in the Carling Cup and the England U21 team. However we all knew that he would perhaps be one considered more for the future. Joel Campbell too will perhaps be appreciated in a few years; he is doing well at Lorient and has earned himself a place in the team. Jenkinson was another for the future however even though their were many Arsenal fans complaining about his performances so far this year he was getting better with every game and many of those same fans will be disappointed to see him injured.

Obviously these players need time to settle in. All players do, or at least should. But if everyone knows that is the case then why were these signings made so late. If the inefficiency of the players cannot be blamed on the players themselves then it must be blamed on the people who didn’t sign them early enough to get a pre-season under their belt. There’s no point in Arsene saying that Mertesacker didn’t know he would be closed down as quickly as he was by Morrison on Saturday. The fact is that he should have been taught these things by now because soon mistakes like that will cost them points and the fans will not be as forgiving. Whether the delay in bringing in new players was the fault of the board or the manager is yet to be known, but both should have known better.

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The quality of the player signed can be properly evaluated later in the season when they have had time to settle in. The success of Wenger’s ‘panic buying’ can be brought down to one main question: was he buying squad players or first team players? Obviously Gervinho and Mertesacker were bought for the first team but it seems that the others were bought to compensate for Arsenal’s repetitive injury problems. And therefore even though they haven’t lit the league alight with flair-filled performances players like Santos, Arteta and Jenkinson have done what they were meant to do. Benayoun too has provided ample cover and having an extra centre back in Mertesacker has definitely been beneficial to the club. The summer transfer window may not have gone exactly to plan for Arsene but it would be hard to imagine their recovery without their new players.

 For more Arsenal news follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay

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Schalke came from a goal behind to defeat Valencia 3-1 and book their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.Ricardo Costa fired Valencia into a 17th minute lead which not only gave them the lead on the night, but also on aggregate, before Jefferson Farfan struck a sensational free-kick just five minutes before half-time to equalise for Schalke.Mario Gavranovic put the Bundesliga side in front with his 52nd minute finish and after Valencia missed a hatful of chances to take the lead on away goals, Farfan completed the victory with a delicate chip in injury time.The tie was well poised after Raul’s second-half equaliser for Schalke at the Mestalla saw the first leg end at 1-1, but it was the La Liga outfit who impressed in the early stages of the return leg in Germany.Jeremy Mathieu saw his early shot flash just wide of the post, but Unai Emery’s men did not have to wait long for a goal, which was triggered by a wonderful piece of skill by Mehmet Topal.Topal intelligently created space for himself on the edge of the area and delivered a bullet cross which was turned in by Costa to give Valencia the lead and an all-important away goal.Schalke were shaken by the goal and could have been two behind if it was not for Christoph Metzelder’s last-ditch challenge to deny Aduriz after 21 minutes.The hosts were eventually able to work themselves back into the match and should have scored through Gavranovic who missed a header, before the equaliser came when Farfan produced a superb free-kick. The Peruvian attacker curled his set piece around the wall and despite the best efforts of Valencia goalkeeper Guaita, who got a touch, the ball thudded into the back of the net to level proceedings.Energised by their goal, Schalke started the second-half well and claimed the lead when Gavranovic pounced on a Guaita error, with his shot hitting both posts before trickling over the line.The goal seemed to fire Valencia into action, and Aduriz shot into the side netting on 56 minutes before he saw a one-on-one opportunity brilliantly saved by in-demand Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer two minutes later.Valencia should have levelled again through substitute Tino Costa, but he failed to connect with his first-time shot with the goal beckoning.But as Valencia poured forward seeking the late away goal that would take them through, Schalke struck with a counter-attacking move finished by Farfan, who chipped over Guaita to send Felix Magath’s side through to the last eight for just the second time in their history.

The Football Association has written to FIFA to complain after an angry England fan gained entry to the dressing room following the disappointing goalless World Cup draw with Algeria.

England were booed off in Cape Town following a second Group C stalemate, which has left their hopes of reaching the last 16 hanging by a thread.

Afterwards the fan evaded security at the Green Point Stadium and barged his way into the dressing room where he reportedly confronted former skipper David Beckham, who has been with the squad in South Africa despite being injured.

"A fan got in past FIFA security," confirmed an FA spokesman.

"We have formerly complained to FIFA after the game and will follow it up in writing.

"This is not acceptable and thankfully no serious harm was done."

The incident followed a disjointed performance which has left England needing to win against Slovenia in their final group game next Wednesday to progress to the knockout stages.

Wayne Rooney again failed to perform and lambasted the booing England fans as he walked off the pitch at full-time.

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Speaking directly to the television cameras, the clearly frustrated Manchester United striker said: "Nice to see your home fans booing you. That's loyal supporters."

It has again brought to the fore questions about the temperament of a player whose last World Cup four years ago ended in a red card for stamping on an opponent.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email