England's opportunity against injury-hit India.

India's winless tour of England has not been without what initially seemed like positives. At least the admen had moved on from the Lagaan theme that has been the easiest way to sell an India-England series in India. Except that colonial references have now made way for war ones. "There's no weapon deadlier than vengeance," says one in all caps. "India takes on England. The war resumes this October."

To give the marketing machinery generous benefit of doubt, India and England haven't exactly offered them much by the way of close series. India last beat England in England in September 2007.

The corresponding date for England in India is April 2006. India have whitewashed only two Test series (longer than two matches); one of those victims was England. Four out of their seven whitewashes (in series longer than two matches) have been handed by England; the last one earlier this year now invokes the deadly weapon of vengeance...