Ind vs Eng Test series | "I still can’t quite believe it...": James reacts to Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Ex-England pacer James Anderson

Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the possible retiring of the Pataudi Trophy and introduction of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for India's upcoming Test series in England, veteran speedster James Anderson has reacted positively to having his name associated with the prize.

Anderson is, in fact, delighted at the prospect of the series being named after him and India legend Sachin Tendulkar.

"It's a huge honour," Anderson told ESPNcricinfo.

"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. I remember watching him, an absolute legend of the game, and I played against him a lot as well. So to have this trophy named after us is a huge honour for me, and I couldn't be more proud," added Anderson who has picked 704 wickets in 188 Tests, while Tendulkar has scored 15,921 runs in 200 matches.

Last week, former India Test cricketers Yajurvindra Singh and Venkatapathy Raju had expressed their disappointment to mid-day on learning that the Pataudi Trophy, named after illustrious captains Iftikar Ali Khan and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, could be retired. "It's ridiculous to retire the Pataudi Trophy. The BCCI should have stepped in before the proposal came from the England and Wales Cricket Board," Yajurvindra had said. "Discarding the Pataudi Trophy entirely feels unnecessary," former India spinner and selector Raju said.