Virender Sehwag is all set to replace SS Das in the Indian Test team, and is expected to open the innings in the first Test at Lord's. Coach John Wright, speaking to a leading news agency, said: "Veeru is a special player. He has played well at Lord's and he could well get the opportunity there."

About Sehwag opening the batting, he said, "he is a very positive player who will put pressure on the opposition if he gets the opportunity early."

Das, after a promising start to his Test career, floundered every time he faced a stern international test. Both his Test hundreds came at home against Zimbabwe, and he got the man-of-the-series award when India toured Zimbabwe in 2001, but looked out of sorts against Australia, South Africa and, recently, West Indies.

Sehwag, meanwhile, averages 51 in Tests but due to the fine form of the four men in the middle order - Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman - his breaking back into the side for the first Test seemed doubtful. Until a vacancy created itself at the top of the order, as Das continued his dismal run, and failed in both innings of India's first warm-up game, against West Indies A.

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