SACHIN TENDULKAR (2)

This summer's test series with India is probably the last time that English cricket fans will see the great Sachin Tendulkar batting. They will be torn between watching a great performance from the maestro, and rooting for an England side, that will take over the number one position in the world rankings if it wins the series.

The first test started yesterday at Lord's. The home of cricket is one of the few grounds in the world, where Tendulkar has not done well, his highest score being a meagre 37. Not only will he want to rectify that, but if he scores a century, then he will be the first man to reach 100 international (test and one-day) centuries in cricket.

That's the sort of pressure that often causes sportsmen to buckle. But I have a sneaky feeling that Tendulkar might just do it this weekend.

Walter Blotscher