Expert Columns : All

We have seen the referral system tried out at Wimbledon and it worked really well. There is no reason to believe that it will not work in cricket too.

The tourists missed Strauss's conviction in marshalling the side in the field and his batting is always valuable because he is such a fluid player when he is in form.

I believe that if England can play with freedom and confidence - just like South Africa did at Centurion - then they can be successful in the one-day series, but they must also be brave.

To be around for 20 years during which Sachin Tendulkar has played 160 Tests and 436 ODIs is a tribute to his skill, fitness and zest for the game.

It's obvious that like Sunil Gavaskar Tendulkar will go out on a high - and on his own terms. The glorious 175 the other day at Hyderabad underlines this.

I have heard murmurings that if Denly does not perform straight away in South Africa then Jonathan Trott will be pushed up to open the batting with Andrew Strauss. Frankly, that would be absurd.

There is also one more lacuna in the squad that has to be filled and that is the lack of an all-rounder. There is no doubting what such a quality player could achieve and one has just to see Shane Watson's record in the current series.

I back Trott to score big runs in South Africa and his performance in the final Ashes Test at the Oval told me everything I needed to know about his temperament and technique.

Over the years, we have had any number of examples of Aussie grit under pressure and the series served as a tribute to their resilient qualities. This is one quality that they possess in abundance.

England have always been a confidence side and if the squad can settle quickly then who knows how successful they can be against a South Africa side never lacking in that department.