Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy launched on eve of first India-England Test in Headingley; see picture

A brand new ‘Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’ was unveiled on Thursday in the presence of legendary cricketers James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar, who share the name for the silverware that will be handed to the winner of the upcoming bilateral series between England and India .

The trophy was supposed to be unveiled earlier on 14 June during a special ceremony on the sidelines of the ICC World Test Championship Final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. The launch event, however, was postponed out of respect for the victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on 12 June, which claimed more than 270 lives.

The trophy was unveiled a day before the first of five Tests between the two nations gets underway at Headingley in Leeds. It replaces the Pataudi Trophy, which had been introduced in 2007 on the 75th anniversary of the Indian team’s maiden Test – against England at Lord’s in 1932 – as well as the Anthony de Mello Trophy, which has been in existence since 1951.

The Pataudi and the Anthony de Mello trophies were awarded to the winners of an India-England Test series hosted in England and India respectively. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, however, will be awarded to the winner irrespective of where the series is held, much like the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, a joint initiative between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will now represent all future Test series between England and India. Previously, the series in England was played for the Pataudi Trophy and the series in India for the Anthony De Mello Trophy,” read a joint statement from the ECB and the BCCI.

The legacy of the royal Pataudi family, which gave India two legendary cricketers in Iftikhar and Mansur, will be preserved in upcoming India-England Test series’ in the form of a Medal of Excellence that will be presented to the winning captain .

This was after the ECB’s decision to rename the Pataudi Trophy was criticised by the late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s wife Sharmila Tagore as well as Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev .

Tendulkar, Anderson react to having a trophy named after them

Tendulkar and Anderson are among the greatest to have ever played the game. The former remains the highest run-scorer in Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426) and is the only batter with a hundred international centuries.

“For me, Test cricket embodies life – you give your best, and if things go wrong, it gives you another day to regroup, think, unlearn, and bounce back. It is the highest form of the game that teaches you endurance, discipline and adaptability, against all odds. I owe my foundation to Test cricket, as it has seen me grow from disappointments to triumphs, from aspirations to fulfilment.

“India and England have played a big role in shaping Test cricket in a way that it remains an evolving inspiration for subsequent generations. And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more - allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden,” said Tendulkar, who had stepped in to preserve the Pataudi family’s legacy in the series.

Anderson, on the other hand, finished as the highest wicket-taker among pacers and the second-highest overall with 704 scalps in 188 Test appearances – 12 shy of the ‘Master Blaster’.

“It’s a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself. The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments.

“To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I’m looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer. It promises to be compelling, competitive cricket - exactly what you’d expect from two great sides. This is elite sport at its finest,” Anderson, who had recently been knighted, said in a statement.

While Tendulkar had bid an emotional farewell to the game in 2013, Anderson had played Test cricket as recently as last summer.