Renew the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy for another season. Cancel the rest
The big mission, side quests, angry clashes, wounded heroes, hostile natives - this blockbuster season had it all
Alan Gardner
15-Aug-2025
England vs India was just nuts. Ask Ben Stokes • Getty Images
What a time to be alive. You were watching the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, right? It was giving brilliant product from start to finish. Did absolutely great numbers. Viewing figures, social engagement, viral moments. Cliffhanger finish at the end. Someone commission the follow-up. No, seriously, there must be room for another India tour in the calendar?
It was top-tier content (by the way, have we mentioned our idea for tiered Test cricket?) and another reason to be thankful for the "Big Three" era. Never mind how many Tests West Indies or Pakistan are playing, let's focus on what really matters. India vs England vs Australia. Rinse and repeat. Pat ourselves on the back. Is that the Ashes on the horizon? Truly the format is #blessed.
Anyway, to celebrate what the critics are calling Undoubtedly the Best Test Series Since Virat Kohli Retired, and the future of Test cricket being guaranteed in perpetuity, the Light Roller has picked out some highlights to be turned into NFTs and flogged for a small fortune…
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Ben Stokes hates drawing Test matches, so much that he would rather tear his own biceps off his humerus than contribute to one. Of course, when such a result became inevitable at Old Trafford, he and his team-mates just wanted out. Was their childish reaction to India's decision to bat on a blight on an otherwise well-conducted contest? Yes. Did it unnecessarily detract from the hundreds that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar had worked hard for? Yes again. Was the whole carry-on as unedifying as most of England's sanctimonious posturing about how the game should be played? Also yes.
Ben Stokes hates drawing Test matches, so much that he would rather tear his own biceps off his humerus than contribute to one. Of course, when such a result became inevitable at Old Trafford, he and his team-mates just wanted out. Was their childish reaction to India's decision to bat on a blight on an otherwise well-conducted contest? Yes. Did it unnecessarily detract from the hundreds that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar had worked hard for? Yes again. Was the whole carry-on as unedifying as most of England's sanctimonious posturing about how the game should be played? Also yes.
The heavyweight contest we didn't know we needed
The game these days is all about match-ups. But while Jofra Archer vs Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah vs India's win-loss ratio were compelling, the series saved its biggest stoush for the end. Gautam Gambhir famously never backs down from an argument but taking on The Oval's head groundsman, Lee Fortis, was an unexpected move. Fortis looks like he could squash Gambhir without even needing to fire up the heavy roller, but he stayed "within his capacity" and focused on producing the best pitch of the series.
The game these days is all about match-ups. But while Jofra Archer vs Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah vs India's win-loss ratio were compelling, the series saved its biggest stoush for the end. Gautam Gambhir famously never backs down from an argument but taking on The Oval's head groundsman, Lee Fortis, was an unexpected move. Fortis looks like he could squash Gambhir without even needing to fire up the heavy roller, but he stayed "within his capacity" and focused on producing the best pitch of the series.
Death of a Gentleman award for saving Test cricket
Fifth Test, fourth innings. England doing their Bazball thang and seemingly home and hosed - only to suffer a monumental collapse against India's Siiiuuuuu-per hero Mohammed Siraj. But was this a defeat for England or a triumph for Test cricket? While a 3-1 scoreline might have quickly passed from the back pages into posterity, a 2-2 draw in the most dramatic of circumstances will live in our hearts forever. And what is the stated aim of Bazball? To save Test cricket. The galaxy brains have done it again.
Fifth Test, fourth innings. England doing their Bazball thang and seemingly home and hosed - only to suffer a monumental collapse against India's Siiiuuuuu-per hero Mohammed Siraj. But was this a defeat for England or a triumph for Test cricket? While a 3-1 scoreline might have quickly passed from the back pages into posterity, a 2-2 draw in the most dramatic of circumstances will live in our hearts forever. And what is the stated aim of Bazball? To save Test cricket. The galaxy brains have done it again.
They think it's all Oval… it is now
Speaking of those operating on a different plane to the rest of us… Siraj might have ensured the Oval Test finished inside four days had he held on to Harry Brook's top-edged pull at fine leg, rather than stepping on the boundary to the accompaniment of raucous jeering in surround sound. But then, he wouldn't have had to Google Cristiano Ronaldo inspo pics the following morning, wouldn't have taken three of the last four wickets to fall, and would perhaps never have bowled himself into Indian cricket immortality. You beta believe this guy's an alpha.
Speaking of those operating on a different plane to the rest of us… Siraj might have ensured the Oval Test finished inside four days had he held on to Harry Brook's top-edged pull at fine leg, rather than stepping on the boundary to the accompaniment of raucous jeering in surround sound. But then, he wouldn't have had to Google Cristiano Ronaldo inspo pics the following morning, wouldn't have taken three of the last four wickets to fall, and would perhaps never have bowled himself into Indian cricket immortality. You beta believe this guy's an alpha.
Cojones of steel
Shubman Gill told Zak Crawley to grow bigger balls during the fabled twilight dust-up at Lord's, but the series was not short on displays of testicular fortitude. Shoaib Bashir bowling with a broken finger. Rishabh Pant batting with a broken foot. Chris Woakes running singles with his arm in a sling. And none of those fellas were actually hit in the spuds - unlike Stokes, who seemed to have a magnet down there. Really, it was enough to bring a tear to the eye.
Shubman Gill told Zak Crawley to grow bigger balls during the fabled twilight dust-up at Lord's, but the series was not short on displays of testicular fortitude. Shoaib Bashir bowling with a broken finger. Rishabh Pant batting with a broken foot. Chris Woakes running singles with his arm in a sling. And none of those fellas were actually hit in the spuds - unlike Stokes, who seemed to have a magnet down there. Really, it was enough to bring a tear to the eye.
****
How do you follow the banquet that was England versus India? With platter after platter of fried (or baked) comestibles, of course! The Light Roller has already explained how its stance on the Hundred has altered, following the influx of pot loads of private equity cash - meaning we are now fully in favour of the tournament realising its "multi-billion dollar" potential. What we are not in favour of, however, is the new stakeholders giving themselves what they presumably think are cool-sounding nicknames. Yes, we're looking at you, "Tech Titans". Just because you've achieved your boyhood dream of buying an access-all-areas pass to Lord's, does not mean we have to go along with the juvenile rebranding. As with George Costanza calling himself "T-Bone", or Chuck "The Sherminator" Sherman, the self-proclaimed sobriquet is not a good look. Besides, Cricket Investor Holdings Limited is a perfectly fine name. You're the boardroom suits, you don't need to look cool. That's for the guys and girls out there dressed as crisp packets.
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick