England’s legendary fast bowler James Anderson has expressed immense pride and a touch of humility regarding reports that the Test series between England and India will now be contested for the ‘Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’, replacing the long-standing Pataudi Trophy.
A “Huge Honour” and Disbelief
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Anderson described the proposed renaming as a “huge honour” and admitted he “still can’t quite believe it.” The veteran pacer, who recently retired from Test cricket, acknowledged the significance of having his name alongside an icon like Sachin Tendulkar.
“Sachin is Someone I Looked Up To”
Anderson highlighted his admiration for Tendulkar, stating, “Sachin is someone I looked up to when I was growing up.” He quickly followed this with a light-hearted remark, adding, “though I don’t want to do him a disservice with his age!” This statement reflects the respect Anderson holds for the Indian batting maestro, acknowledging Tendulkar’s senior status in cricketing history while playfully referencing their age difference.
Recalling Battles and Legends
The England spearhead also reminisced about the numerous on-field battles he had with Tendulkar throughout their careers. “I remember watching him, an absolute legend of the game, and I played against him a lot as well,” Anderson said, emphasizing the privilege of competing against such a cricketing giant. He reiterated his immense pride in having the trophy named after both of them.
Acknowledging the Pataudi Legacy and Future Excitement
While expressing his delight, Anderson’s comments come amidst some debate surrounding the replacement of the Pataudi Trophy, which honored Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and his father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi. However, the focus from Anderson’s perspective remains on the personal honor.
Looking ahead to the upcoming five-match Test series, Anderson anticipates an exciting contest, even with changes in the Indian squad. “This series is going to be exactly the same as you’d expect. I know India are going through a little bit of change with a new captain (Shubman Gill), and losing (Virat) Kohli and (Rohit) Sharma, but I still think they’ve got a strong squad with some really exciting players,” he concluded.
