Sunil Gavaskar has proposed that the trophy be named the ‘Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. ’The legendary Indian cricketer has expressed strong opposition to naming the ongoing five-match Test series trophy between India and England as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Previously, the Pataudi Trophy was awarded for the Test series played between England and India in England. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) replaced it with the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The ECB’s decision to feature images of Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson on the new trophy was meant to honour their outstanding contributions. Tendulkar has played 200 Test matches, and Anderson 188, making them the most-capped players in Test cricket history.
James Anderson, regarded as one of the finest swing bowlers, holds the record for the most Test wickets by a fast bowler with 704 dismissals. His achievement ranks him third on the all-time wicket-takers list, behind legendary spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Sunil Gavaskar: Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar remains the highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 15,921 runs. He also holds the record for the most Test centuries, scoring 51 centuries across 200 matches.
Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes ECB: Sachin Tendulkar Senior to James Anderson, His Name Should Come First
Sunil Gavaskar has taken a strong stand against the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the naming of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He argued that Sachin Tendulkar, being senior and having a far more impressive international cricket record, deserves to have his name placed before James Anderson’s.
Sunil Gavaskar emphasized that Tendulkar is significantly senior to Anderson and that his achievements surpass those of the English bowler by a wide margin.
“The ECB is fully entitled to name the series as they wish, but for most, if not all, Indian cricket fans, it feels wrong that Anderson’s name appears first. Sachin Tendulkar, along with Kapil Dev, is one of India’s greatest cricketers and is over a dozen years senior to Anderson. Tendulkar is the all-time highest run-scorer and century-maker in Test cricket, and he also leads in runs in one-day internationals,” Gavaskar wrote in his Mid-day column.
Sunil Gavaskar added, “Anderson ranks third among Test wicket-takers, but his record in one-day cricket doesn’t match Tendulkar’s. Tendulkar was part of a World Cup-winning team, something Anderson hasn’t achieved. Anderson has been excellent, especially in English conditions, but his overseas record pales compared to Tendulkar’s consistency. I urge all Indian cricket fans and media to refer to the trophy as the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy.”
Previously, the trophy was known as the Pataudi Trophy, named after the father-son Indian captains Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
