We just experienced an unforgettable Test series between the hosts England and the visitors India, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. It was the five-match Test series, where both teams never gave up without putting up their last fight, as the series ended in a 2-2 draw. Recently, former English cricketers Michael Atherton and Naseer Hussain spoke about the series and compared it to one of the greatest Test series the Ashes 2005. 

Ashes 2005 is a great example of Test cricket

Ashes 2005 is known as one of the greatest Test series in history, which the hosts England won by 2-1 to end their 16-year drought for the Ashes urn. It was a series of legends and high-quality battles in every moment. While it is hard to find a competitive Test series like the Ashes 2005, especially a long Test series, the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 has impressed many cricket experts.

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England vs India Test series 2025: Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025

In the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, both England and India gave everything for the series. Those battles were so intense that the injured cricketers Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes couldn't put themselves out of the game. 

Former English captain Naseer Hussain recently asked his long-time Test teammate Michael Atherton, where the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 could challenge the Ashes 2005, which some have felt. In reply, Atherton refused to agree on it, but he also said that the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 would be one of the best series since the Ashes 2005. Atherton further added that the Ashes 2005 was a higher quality Test series, which can't be compared easily. 

Atherton said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, "No, I don't think the quality was as good as 2005. I don't think I'll see a better series than the 2005 Ashes. I just think one team on the rise, one great team on the decline, an emerging team, absolutely great players at the top of their game. But I think probably the best series since '05. I mean, the 2023 Ashes was a fantastic Ashes, wasn't it? But I probably put this one as the best series since 2005 because of those dramatic moments like Woakes and Rishabh Pant and the way the series twisted and turned. So I reckon probably the best series that I've covered since '05."

Nasser and Athers debate whether the recent England vs India series was as good as The 2005 Ashes? 💭 pic.twitter.com/zdnzqvBb6q

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 13, 2025

The incident happened just after Akash Deep dismissed the England left-handed opening batter, Ben Duckett, who, before that, was smashing the Bengal pacer all around the park. A few balls ago, the southpaw nailed the bowler for a huge six before getting an outside edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper, as Deep walked up to the batter and put his arm around the batter's shoulder.

The umpires had a word with the bowler after that, while KL Rahul tried to pull him off the moment. The former England captain, Michael Atherton, didn’t enjoy the incident at all. He questions whether a bowler would have thought of doing the same with a feisty batter, and it was excellent from Ben to fully avoid any heat in that moment.

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‘Can you imagine doing that to Viv Richards? Or anyone? I would have hated that, having put an arm around me after dismissing me. Stay out of my way. This is a serious point. I understand it was in good nature, and I love giving players maximum leeway on the field.’ Atherton expressed on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Former players react to incident between Akash Deep and Ben Duckett during ENG vs IND 5th Test

‘Because it’s an emotional and passionate game, I like to see them getting stuck in and don’t love to see the match referees always. But it’s a non-contract spot. Something like that will end in a problem. So this is something that the match referee had to stamp out.’ Atherton felt that the match referee would need to discuss with the pacer.

"If Athers had put his hand around me getting me out, I would've said 'Get out of the way!'" 😅

Ravi Shastri and Michael Atherton share their thoughts on the incident between Ben Duckett and Akash Deep 💭 pic.twitter.com/UyQzCX6uJL

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 2, 2025

Even Ravi Shastri, the former Indian coach, supported the view and felt that it would have gone in an ugly way had Ben not handled the situation in the right way.

‘No physical contract. What it may lead to is that Duckett might have been thinking something else at that moment in time. Another player with the feisty character wouldn’t have liked it and could have done something that he would have regretted. Just because it has been seen by millions, the match referee would be forced to take action because of the rules.’ Shastri observed.

The former England captain, Michael Atherton, has discussed the recent decline of the West Indies side in the longest format. Recently, the Caribbean side lost the three-match series to Australia by a margin of 0-3, and more specifically, got rolled over for just 27 runs in the fourth innings of the third Sabina Park Test in Jamaica, which is the second-lowest total in an inning.

Atherton reveals that the story of the Roston Chase-led side isn’t new, and he also expressed how the story hasn’t been the same in the white-ball form of the game. The former captain also shed light on how the game has lost spectators in the Caribbean, while most of the England fans are travelling for the Test series.

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‘It’s a sad tale, isn’t it? The West Indies, we seem to have written it, time and time again, about the decline of not so much of the white-ball or T20 cricket- the short form of cricket, but for the Test cricket, which seems to me is almost dead as a spectator sport there. When England go, you know, it’s only the England fans who travel for Tests.’ Atherton revealed during a recent podcast on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Michael Atherton analyzes West Indies’ recent Test decline  

‘Now that England are not playing a Test in the Caribbean, they don’t play there in the next program. It’s a story that has been written time and time again and doesn’t seem to have easy answers. I notice they have called together a meeting of their greats.’ The former England opening batter added.  

Michael Atherton discusses the decline of the game in the West Indies 🏏 pic.twitter.com/gFY90hfdVw

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 18, 2025

Just the day after they managed 27 runs on the board, the WICB invited the former captains and batters for an emergency meeting, but Atherton wasn’t sure of how it would develop. ‘I am not sure what that’s going to achieve either. It’s been such a long time since the Red Ball decline. It’s the batting. Bowling looks strong with attacking bowlers, but Mitchell Starc with the pink ball was very tricky.’ The veteran addressed.

West Indies won’t have an easy time after this home series. They will soon make a Test trip to India in the autumn and later to New Zealand by the end of the series. The pressure is also immense on the coaching management to bring positive results.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has come down hard on the on-field umpires during the ongoing third Test between England and India at Lord’s. Atherton questioned the officials for permitting Indian skipper Shubman Gill to receive treatment on the field, which resulted in unnecessary delays during England’s innings. The incident occurred during the 110th over when Gill lay down for back treatment, causing a halt in play.

“At one stage, towards the end of England’s innings, Gill lay down for treatment on his back, and the umpires condoned a lengthy stoppage instead of instructing him to leave the field to allow play to resume. From stoppages for minor injuries to delays for attempted ball changes to fussiness over the state of the popping crease—once the ground staff were called on to flatten where the batsmen were standing, the umpires had lost control of this issue,” Atherton wrote in The Times (via The Indian Express).

Gill made news as well after he officially asked for many ball changes on Day 3 and was spotted having animated exchanges with the umpires, which added to the chaos. India went to stumps on Day 3 at 145/3, replying to England's 387, and the delays became a talking point in the day's play.

Shubman Gill Falls Short at Lord’s

Despite being one of India’s most consistent performers this series, Shubman Gill couldn’t replicate his earlier success at Lord’s. Heading into the match with 585 runs in four innings—including three centuries and a double ton—Gill managed only 16 off 44 balls in the first innings. Attempting to push forward on a delivery outside off, he nicked it to the keeper and was dismissed early.

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With India trailing by 242 runs, Gill will be eager to make amends if given another opportunity in the second innings. A strong performance at the iconic venue would help India aim for a 2-1 lead and carry forward their momentum from the previous win.

Former England captain Michael Atherton believes Ben Stokes is facing the toughest test of his leadership as he prepares his side for the crucial third Test at Lord’s, following a crushing 336-run defeat to India in the second match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Edgbaston. With England now trailing 1–1, Atherton emphasized that the next two days would be crucial in lifting the morale of a wounded squad.

Atherton pointed out that, ahead of the series, much of the focus in England’s cricketing circles had been on the upcoming Ashes, with several former players and pundits treating the India series as a warm-up. However, the heavy loss in Birmingham has forced a rethink. “In the three years that Ben Stokes has captained England, it is hard to think that he has faced a sterner challenge than over the next two days, as he contemplates how to lift his players for the third Test at Lord’s,” Atherton wrote in his column for The Times. “It will be a massive test of his leadership and his own mental and physical resilience.”

He reflected on Stokes’ own comments before the second Test and the dramatic contrast in England’s approach and outcome. Atherton described the Edgbaston defeat as a direct punishment for England’s game plan and underscored the importance of recalibrating both tactics and energy. “The three days that Stokes used to shut himself off from the world after Leeds for his own benefit are essentially the days he must use now to rally his players,” he said.

Atherton Calls for Bowling Changes Ahead of Lord’s

Atherton also analyzed Stokes’ workload during the Edgbaston Test, noting how the physical toll has likely worsened with the pressure of defeat. “He spent 25 overs longer in the field; he bowled nine overs fewer and batted 16 minutes less. Defeat, of course, exacerbates matters. If he was feeling knackered after a win at Leeds and with a seven-day break, how must he have been feeling on Monday morning with the Lord’s Test three days away?” he wrote.

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Looking ahead to the team composition, Atherton suggested refreshing the seam attack, especially with Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson nearing full fitness. “I’d keep faith with the batting and freshen up the seam attack, bringing in [Jofra] Archer and [Gus] Atkinson for Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse,” he concluded, noting Atkinson’s strong Test record at Lord’s, where he has claimed 19 wickets at an average of 10.94 from just two matches.

On Day 3 of the series with England, Test 2 at Edgbaston, it was a mixed day for India's bowlers. Mohammed Siraj was great with the ball and claimed his sixth wicket of the innings, while Prasidh Krishna failed to take a wicket and was smashed for 23 runs in a single over by Jamie Smith, including four boundaries and a six. With an economy rate of 5.50, Krishna recorded one of the highest in Test history for bowlers with at least 500 balls.

His poor performance invited criticism from fans and experts. Former England captain Michael Atherton, speaking on commentary, said, "I wouldn't pick this gentleman, Prasidh Krishna. I would have picked Kuldeep Yadav." Ahead of the match, many had called for Kuldeep’s inclusion, and with Krishna struggling, that decision now looks questionable. A social media post also claimed that Krishna now holds the worst economy rate in Test history, though this has not been officially confirmed.

On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj brought India back into the match with his brilliant bowling. After England’s Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*) added 303 runs for the sixth wicket, India needed a breakthrough. Akash Deep bowled Brook, and Siraj cleaned up the lower order with three quick wickets.

Siraj delivers when it matters most

Siraj, speaking to JioHotstar, said, “This feeling is unbelievable. I'd been waiting for a moment like this for over a year. I always bowled well, but wickets didn't come. Today, the morning session felt good, but still no breakthrough—so these six wickets are really special.”

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Siraj removed Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir to complete his six-wicket haul. England were bowled out for 407 after being 84/5, and India ended the day in a strong position. While Siraj and Akash Deep shared all ten wickets, Prasidh Krishna’s place in the team now remains under serious doubt.

Despite seeing extraordinary batting brilliance from Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Pant, the Indian lower order has failed to offer any resistance of sorts against the fairly inexperienced English bowling attack. The lower-middle order first came under immense scrutiny when India lost a shocking seven wickets for 41 runs in the first innings. The lower-order woes came back to haunt the visitors as they saw the loss of six wickets for only 33 runs, thus overshadowing Pant & Rahul's defiant stand of 195 runs for the fourth wicket.

Moments before play got underway on day five, former Indian batter Dinesh Karthik was observed having last-minute conversations with renowned commentators Ian Ward and Mike Atherton. DK did not hold himself back while taking a dig at India's flop show concerning India's lower order. As the main cover was being taken away, Karthik compared India's batting to that of a "Dobermann" dog. While referring to this fictional character, the former cricketer turned commentator explained how the Indian batter order exactly replicates the shape of the Dobermann fictional character.  

Just as the Dobermann character, the Indian batting order has a head on top, followed by something in the middle, whereas nothing of any substance at the bottom, thus highlighting the poor state of India's lower order. Upon listening to this, both Ward and Atherton burst into laughter as seen in the video below.

See also: IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Leeds latest weather report: Will it rain on final day of Test match?

Watch the video here:

That's one way to describe the India batting line-up, DK 🤣👇 pic.twitter.com/iqEL1Dw1eh

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 24, 2025

After a damp start to the day, the fifth day of the first Test finally got underway. The lower order failed to come good in both innings when India batted. They will have to quickly leave that behind and work hard to hit their straps right. On a juicy deck that seems to be favoring the quicks, Jasprit Bumrah and the rest of the bowling unit can leverage the overhead conditions to their advantage to inflict some serious damage on the home side early doors. 

At the time of writing, England find themselves motoring along smoothly at 31-0 after 10 overs. 

Ahead of the much-anticipated five-match Test series between India and England, beginning on Friday (June 20) at Headingley in Leeds, a special segment on SKY Sports saw former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton select their combined India-England Test XI of the 21st century. The series will also mark the inauguration of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. In forming their XI, both experts followed strict criteria: players must have played after 2000, with five players from each country, while the eleventh player could belong to either side.

The opening pair chosen was a combination of flair and resilience—Virender Sehwag and Alastair Cook. “I like Rohit Sharma, but Virender Sehwag in that period. Sehwag and Cook, the most beautiful opening combination. Left and right. Dasher and blocker,” said Hussain. At number three, they picked Rahul Dravid, followed by the ever-reliable Sachin Tendulkar at four, who both agreed was a non-negotiable inclusion. The debate for number five led them to pick Kevin Pietersen, leaving out modern-day greats Virat Kohli and Joe Root, as both predominantly batted at number four.

Ben Stokes was slotted in at number six for his all-round brilliance and was also named the captain of the side. Rishabh Pant earned selection as the wicket-keeper for his impactful performances with the bat. “Dravid, Root, Kohli. Dravid batted the most at three. Dravid three, Tendulkar four, Pietersen five. So you are leaving Root and Kohli. We have missed out on Ganguly and Laxman. India does not have an all-rounder. Stokes at six. We have not picked Kohli; we have to pick Stokes as captain,” Hussain explained.

Bowling Attack and Final Selections

In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah and James Anderson were considered non-negotiable. While Zaheer Khan was initially picked, they eventually had to drop him to maintain the five-player limit for Indian cricketers. Stuart Broad took the final pace slot alongside Anderson and Bumrah. For the lone spinner's position, Ravichandran Ashwin edged out legendary names like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Graeme Swann.

Nasser Hussain and Atherton's combined India and England XI post 2000.

- Players were picked at their best position, hence no Root and Kohli ahead of Tendulkar. pic.twitter.com/eXgie0lLhj

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 19, 2025

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“Kumble retired after 2008. Maybe longer. Maybe Ashwin,” said Hussain, adding a light-hearted note that Ashwin had appeared on their podcast. Reflecting on the difficulty of selections, they concluded, “Kohli will be upset, and Root will be incredibly upset. I will tell you what it shows: the unbelievable quality of cricketers these two countries have produced.”

As the dust begins to settle on the recently concluded World Test Championship 2025 Final, the focus now turns to yet another blockbuster Test clash that will be hosted in less than a week's time. The five-match Test series between India and England is just around the corner, and the series promises to bring viewers a lot of thrill and entertainment. For the first time, India will have a new captain in the form of young Shubman Gill, who will be leading the side in the absence of premium Indian stalwarts like Virat and Rohit. Moreover, there is also a growing possibility of seeing Arshdeep Singh make his maiden appearance for India in whites as well as the comeback of Karun Nair into the Indian Test squad after nearly nine years. 

Prior to the buildup to the highly anticipated Test series, JioHotstar has unveiled a power-packed commentary panel across several languages. The one for English comprises nine swashbuckling personalities from India and England. Ravi Shastri, Dinesh Karthik, Navjoot Singh Siddu, Sanjay Manjrekar, Anil Kumble, and Abhinav Mukund are some of the highly renowned voices in the field of cricketing broadcasting in India, who have managed to make it to this panel. Besides, the likes of legendary Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton will oversee the English commentary from an English point of view, along with former English pacer Stuart Broad, who is just beginning to make early marks in his young broadcasting career.

See also: England announce squad for 1st Test against India, Surprise picks

English commentary panel for the Ind-End Test series:

🚨 COMMENTARY PANEL OF ALL LANGUAGES FOR INDIA Vs ENGLAND TEST SERIES 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sSW6yf0h9x

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 14, 2025

This English commentary panel showcases a rich diversity and includes some very highly renowned names who have an accomplished track record in the field of commentary. While the likes of Siddhu and Shastri can add a punch of humor and keep the viewers entertained with their commentary, someone like Atherton and Nasser can bring the game to life by delving into the deep intricacies of the game. On the other hand, DK and Broad are the youngest members in the commentary panel. Although after formally retiring from all formats now, both DK and Broad will be in a much better position to relate to the current happenings on the field of play in a very meaningful way, since they played the game professionally not so long ago, unlike other commentators. 

Former England cricket captain Michael Atherton did not hold back while talking about Jacob Bethell’s absence from England’s Test squad for the match against Zimbabwe. The young all-rounder was busy playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, and Atherton was not happy about it. Jacob Bethell became the main talking point because he was not available for the Test series against Zimbabwe. He was playing for RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which clashed with the Test schedule.

Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain talked about Jacob Bethell not being in England’s Test team for the Zimbabwe series. Bethell did not play the Test match because he was busy in IPL 2025 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Before the second ODI between England and West Indies, Atherton spoke on Sky Sports. He joked about Hussain, who had earlier said that Bethell was learning a lot in IPL by being around a big player like Virat Kohli.

Also Read - IPL 2025: 3 reasons why PBKS deserve to be the winners in Qualifier 2

But Atherton did not agree. He said national duty is more important, especially for players who have central contracts with England.

“I said this three podcasts ago when we were talking about the Zimbabwe Test. I said, bring Bethell back from IPL. It’s an international match. He is a centrally contracted player. I am not saying this now just because things changed. I said the same thing before too,” Atherton said.

He also said:

“You will support him staying in IPL because you have many fans in India. You say he is learning from Kohli and having breakfast with him. That’s fine. But when it’s time to play for your country, you must come back and play.”

Bethell’s IPL Journey

Jacob Bethell got to play in IPL because RCB’s regular opener Phil Salt was sick. Bethell opened the innings with Kohli and played two matches. Jacob Bethell got to play in IPL because RCB’s regular opener Phil Salt was sick. Bethell opened the innings with Kohli and played two matches. Before the IPL playoffs, Bethell left India and joined the England team. He is now playing in the white-ball series against the West Indies.