Sehwag can't do it time and again

The problem with producing an innings as amazing as Virender Sehwag did in Chennai is that everybody expects you to do it again!

The eyes and ears of the cricket playing world will be focussed on Viru over the next couple of days, never mind his millions of Indian admirers.

I have no doubt that he will happily and easily accept this situation and won't feel any extra pressure – at least, not until he walks out to bat and is preparing to face his first ball. It takes skill and training to clear the mind before and during sports events

when the adrenalin is pumping and muscles become tense. Sometimes, try as we might to ignore it, we all fall victim to 'the occasion' and make a mistake.

The other thing I have learned is that when a single player attracts so much attention before an important game, it invariably creates a 'smokescreen' allowing someone unexpected to slip under the radar with a match-winning contribution.

The truth is, I don't honestly believe that India and South Africa could ever select anyone in their starting XI who isn't capable of being a match-winner. Numbers 1-11 in both teams will have had experience of winning matches with bat or ball and all are capable of repeating the feat in a Test match.

Sachin's injury is a sad blow for both sides. India's loss is obvious – he is just 172 runs away from being the most prolific run-scorer of all time and he has 39 Test centuries. But I also feel a

sense of disappointment that he won't be there because competing against India with Sachin in the XI is just a bit more 'special' than when he is missing. I thoroughly enjoy the sense of awe that he commands on the field.