India, June 19 -- A trophy bearing Sachin Tendulkar's name is one of the infinite ways cricket recognises its biggest modern promoter. Sharing that honour with James Anderson makes the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy more than just a prize for the Test series involving India's oldest rivals. It's a symbol of a shared era, their careers collectively spanning 35 years and nearly 388 Tests, a phase that shaped Test cricket's modern landscape through dogged battles of skill and determination. So as far as icons go, it can't really get bigger than Tendulkar and Anderson.

They are also the two most capped players in the history of the game, a record that will probably stand the test of time. Most Test runs, most Test wickets, with a head-to-head tha...