India's win in the NatWest Trophy came about mainly because some very bold decisions were taken by the team management: to shift Sachin Tendulkar down to No. 4 to shore up the middle order, and to ask Rahul Dravid to keep wicket and bat at five so that an extra batsman – matchwinner Mohammad Kaif – could play. John Wright and Sourav Ganguly's mission to forge a more effective Indian team continues in the Tests as well, with Virender Sehwag replacing SS Das at the top of the order. On the face of it, this seems the kind of move India has carried out in the past with conspicuous failure. Both Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have been made to open in the past when there have been a surfiet of middle-order batsmen and a vacancy at the top. Both were unwilling openers, both failed in their new roles, and one hoped that no other middle-order batsman would have his career compromised in such a fashion.

But Sehwag's inclusion as an opener does not fall in that category. For one, it is an attacking move: his task is not to see out the new ball, but to whack it around. Michael Slater seized the initiative for Australia in one dazzling over in last year's ashes, and the momentum never shifted back. Sehwag is equally capable of taking a match away from the opposition in the course of a session.

This is especially crucial given the dilapidated state of England's bowling line-up. No Darren Gough, no Andy Caddick, and though it means little, no Alex Tudor either. England's attack is attractively mediocre, and an early injury could prove a fatal wound. If Sehwag gets stuck into them in the first session, it could turn the series.

Of course, the move could backfire badly. Sehwag has never looked comfortable against the moving ball, and tends to be too impetuous even by one-day standards. If he allows England an early strike and the middle-order is exposed, the series could turn there as well. But that would be no worse than what Das has been doing all along.

The opening batsmen have been the weak links in India's otherwise impressive batting line-up for some time now, not just because of their inadequacy, but also because of their diffidence. Wright and Ganguly are going for broke with Sehwag; if it works, it could transform India as a Test team.

Amit Varma is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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