James Anderson reacted to him and Sachin Tendulkar after the ECB naming England vs. India Test series

James Anderson ‘still can’t quite believe’ that the England vs India Test series has been named after him. A couple of days ago, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to rename the trophy after Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar, two of the greatest Test cricketers in the last 50 years.

Anderson, who had retired from international cricket last year, ended his career as England’s most prolific bowler. Only two bowlers, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, have more wickets than him in Test cricket. As for Tendulkar, no one stands close to him when it comes to runs scored in Test or international cricket. And the ECB has decided to honour him by renaming a trophy after the legends.

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

“It’s a huge honour. I still can’t quite believe it. Sachin is someone I looked up to when I was growing up, though I don’t want to do him a disservice with his age,” Anderson told ESPNcricinfo.

Anderson, who’s 11 years junior to Tendulkar, was even 7 years old when his Indian counterpart made his Test debut in 1989. And like many cricketers of the 2000s, idolised Tendulkar. To have a trophy named after him and one of the cricketers he grew up admiring is something Anderson still can’t come to terms with.

“I remember watching him, an absolute legend of the game, and I played against him a lot as well. So to have this trophy is a huge honour for me, and I couldn’t be more proud,” he added.