In a landmark decision to bring consistency and prestige to one of Test cricket’s most enduring rivalries, the India-England Test series will now be contested under a single name — the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy — beginning with India’s 2025 tour of England.
Honouring legends and unifying tradition
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) jointly announced the renaming, aligning the series with modern cricket’s tradition of honoring all-time greats. The move mirrors the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which unified the India-Australia rivalry under a single identity and symbol of excellence.
Until now, the bilateral contests between India and England were played under two different banners: the Pataudi Trophy in England, named after India’s former captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and the Anthony de Mello Trophy in India, honoring the founding figure of the BCCI. The introduction of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy brings a cohesive identity to the historic series, while celebrating two cricketers who defined their generation.
A fitting tribute to all-time greats
Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson — both widely regarded as icons of the modern game — will officially unveil the trophy during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa, which begins on June 11, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, is the only cricketer to have played 200 Test matches. His career tally of 15,921 Test runs and 51 centuries made him a global phenomenon and a symbol of Indian cricket’s golden era. His remarkable consistency, technique, and longevity continue to inspire players across generations.
Anderson, who bid farewell to Test cricket in 2024 after 188 appearances, remains the most successful fast bowler in Test history. The English seamer took over 700 wickets, becoming the first fast bowler to reach the milestone. Revered for his swing, control, and adaptability, Anderson was the linchpin of England’s bowling attack for over two decades.
A new beginning for a historic rivalry
The newly named trophy will debut during the five-match Test series between India and England starting June 20, 2025, at Headingley in Leeds, which also marks the beginning of a new WTC cycle.
This is not the first time the ECB has embraced legacy-based series naming. In November 2024, it collaborated with New Zealand Cricket to rename the England-New Zealand series the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, in tribute to Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe.
The Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy now brings the India-England rivalry into the same tradition — celebrating cricketing excellence, fostering legacy, and giving fans a single, iconic name to rally around for decades to come.
