As Shubman Gill’s Team India gears up for their tough five-match Test series in England, the series is likely to be given a new name.
It has been confirmed that the India-England Test series will now be called the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, renamed in honour of two cricketing legends — Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson.
Anderson, the English pacer retired from the game last year after playing in 188 Tests for England. Tendulkar, on the other hand, played 200 Tests for India and retired in 2013. Both BCCI and ECB have taken the decision to rename the trophy, as the two modern legends etch their name in the prestigious series. As per ESPNCricinfo, Tendulkar and Anderson will unveil the new trophy during the World Test Championshp in Lord’s, which will be played between Australia and South Africa. The new WTC cycle starts with the India-England Test series, with the first match in Headlingley from June 20. India will be without their batting talismans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who announced their retirement from the red ball format.
The India-England Test series has traditionally been played under two different names, depending on the host country. In India, it is called the Anthony de Mello Trophy, introduced in 1951 to honour Anthony de Mello, the first secretary of the BCCI. In England, the series is known as the Pataudi Trophy, established in 2007 by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s first Test in England and to recognise the Pataudi family’s contribution to cricket.