Sunil Gavaskar Slams Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Name, Feels Sachin Tendulkar Deserved First Billing

Debate rages on as England’s India Test series faces backlash over the renaming of the historic Pataudi Trophy.

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Name, Feels Sachin Tendulkar Deserved First Billing

Sunil Gavaskar criticized the naming of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, opining that Sachin's name should have come first. (via India Today)

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for controversially renaming the Pataudi Trophy, to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Gavaskar argued that the new name should have featured Sachin Tendulkar’s name ahead of James Anderson. 

The debate surrounding the controversial renaming of the Pataudi Trophy, England’s home Test series against India, has continued. It was first awarded in the year 2007, to mark 75 years of the first Test match played between India and England in 1932. It was originally named in the honor of Iftikhar Ali Khan Patuadi, who remains the only cricket player to date to have played for both India and England.

This year, ahead of the five-match Test series in England, the ECB renamed the iconic trophy, jointly in the honor of two of the best red-ball players of India and England, in the 21st century. It was subsequently named the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, honoring James Anderson, the former English fast bowler, who only retired from cricket last year, and Sachin Tendulkar, former Indian batting icon and cricket legend.

The renaming of this trophy has been criticized by many, including 1983 World Cup winner Sunil Gavaskar and Sharmila Tagore, wife of late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. Gavaskar specifically criticized the order of the names, with Sachin Tendulkar’s name succeeding James Anderson’s. While the ECB put forth the explanation that the alphabetical precedence of the letter ‘A’ over ‘T’ led to Anderson’s name coming first, Gavaskar disregarded this justification.

In his column for Mid-Day, the 75-year-old stated that the ECB disregarded Tendulkar’s cricketing legacy, while renaming the trophy. Gavaskar pointed to the fact that Tendulkar is way ahead of James Anderson, in terms of cricket achievements as well as contribution across all formats. He also noted that Tendulkar’s name should have come first, as he is way more senior to his English counterpart.

It is jarring to know that Anderson’s name comes first. Not only is Sachin Tendulkar, along with Kapil Dev, the greatest Indian cricketer, but also senior to Anderson by more than a dozen years.

Sunil Gavaskar wrote

Gavaskar also emphasized upon Tendulkar’s unparalleled records, including being the highest run-getter in international cricket history (34,357 runs), as well as the player with the most centuries (100).

These records, Gavaskar asserted, are far more superior than those of James Anderson, who ranks only as the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. He also stated that the fast bowler was only good in English conditions, while Tendulkar excelled in conditions, all around the world.

Jimmy [James] Anderson was a terrific bowler, but mainly in English conditions, and his record away is nowhere near as good as [Sachin] Tendulkar’s is.

Sunil Gavaskar even highlighted how Anderson was never a part of a World Cup winning team, unlike Tendulkar, who was a key member of India’s 2011 victorious squad and the tournament’s leading run-scorer. Thereafter, he urged Indian fans to even refer to it as the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, instead. 

Sunil Gavaskar Criticized ECB over Pataudi Medallion, After England-India Series Renaming Controversy

The ECB drew the ire of fans, by controversially renaming the Pataudi Trophy, as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The board was slammed further after it announced a Pataudi Medallion, to honor the contribution of the royal family to cricket in India. 

Sunil Gavaskar on Pataudi medallion
Sunil Gavaskar slammed the ECB’s decision to award the Pataudi medallion, to the winning captain. (via Outlook India)

Ex-India opener Sunil Gavaskar questioned the board’s intent behind awarding the Pataudi medal to the winning captain of the series. He further queried about who would be given the medal should the series end in a draw. Gavaskar instead suggested that the Man of the Match for each Test should receive a medal, and the Player of the Series should be awarded a Pataudi Trophy.

The announcement said that respect would be given to the Pataudis by having a medallion for the captain of the team winning the series. Why the captain and what if the series is drawn?

Sunil Gavaskar on the Pataudi Medallion

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen who emerges victorious in the ongoing five-match Test series, after an electrifying start in the opener. Both teams have managed to put up 450+ scores in the first innings, with India ending with a lead of just six runs going into the second innings.