Sachin has unfinished business
Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar has never scored a one-day century against England. But they would do well to celebrate the fact sooner rather than later.
Given that Tendulkar's international cv includes a record 31 limited-overs hundreds in 280 innings, his English 'failure' is quite surprising.
Australia and Sri Lanka have been the former India captain's favourite opponents with six centuries apiece coming off their attacks. Then again, it was New Zealand who paid the heaviest price ... to the tune of an unbeaten 186.
As for England, Tendulkar has batted against them 20 times with a top score of 97. He averages 36 against them - eight runs below his overall one-day mark.
So there's nothing much for Nasser Hussain's men to worry about, then? We'll see.
"The priority is to make India win every game," says Tendulkar. "If I score a hundred while doing that then it would be good."
It has to be pointed out there are plenty of opportunities for him to put the record straight over the next few weeks and months.
England and India will meet each other three times during this summer's NatWest triangular tournament - or four if they both make the final at Sri Lanka's expense. Then, come September, the two countries are in the same pool, with Zimbabwe, for the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.
And, most important of all, England and India are grouped together in the 2003 World Cup.
With the hosts starting the series without Darren Gough and Sri Lanka minus the also injured Muttiah Muralitharan, Tendulkar will be the star attraction during a NatWest Series that, sadly, was memorable for all the wrong reasons a year ago. England's failure to win a game resulted in coach Duncan Fletcher being called to Lord's to discuss one-day strategy.
But far more serious were the pitch invasions when England played Pakistan. This time around, if the fans stay behind the boundary boards, the sun shines and the floodlights, when used, burn brightly enough then the NatWest Series of 2002 ought to be a success.
And that's even without Tendulkar hitting overdrive.
