Brendon McCullum happy after England fail to win Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy!! Mohammed Siraj is the reason

England National Cricket Team head coach Brendon McCullum has said that the 2-2 scoreline against the India National Cricket Team was a fair reflection of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

Brendon McCullum also said that, as much as he was disappointed, he had a deep admiration for Mohammed Siraj and the fight he showed throughout the series.

India deny England a 3-1 victory

The Shubman Gill-led side were successful in denying the English team a 3-1 triumph in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 and drew the series 2-2.

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The teams entered the fifth Test match at the Kennington Oval in London with the Three Lions having a 2-1 lead. India batted first after losing the toss and scored 224 runs, with Karun Nair being the top performer.

Then, India bowled out England for 247 runs, thanks to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, before scoring 396 runs riding on Yashasvi Jaiswal's terrific hundred and Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Akash Deep's sensational half-centuries.

Defending the total of 374, India reduced England to 106/3, but then came a horrible time as Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) showcased a batting brilliance and pushed India on the backfoot.

On Day 5, England needed just 35 runs to win with four wickets in hand, and Mohammed Siraj (5 wickets) alongside Prasidh Krishna (4 wickets) dominated to bowl out the hosts for 367, securing a 6-run win.

Also Read: Ben Stokes' England labelled illiterate as India pressure mounts

That is the best five-match Test series I have ever been a part of - Brendon McCullum

Speaking on Sky Sports, England head coach Brendon McCullum labelled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 as the best series he has ever been part of. He said:

"That is the best five-match Test series I have ever been a part of and witnessed. It just oscillated so much right throughout the six weeks and I felt it had everything. I thought there was hostility at times, comraderie at times, great cricket at times, there was some average cricket because of the pressure they were put under.

"We knew it was going to be hard coming into the series, we knew they were going to test us physically and mentally. I think it tested both teams more than we expected."

Brendon McCullum was in awe of the performance delivered by Mohammed Siraj and was happy seeing the Indian pacer get the job done for India. He said:

"It was a cracking series to be a part of and when Siraj took that final wicket, as much I was disappointed, I had admiration for him and the fight he has got as a cricketer and the way he was able to do what he did. I think 2-2 was a fair reflection."

Stokes is a once-in-a-generation cricketer - Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum further praised Ben Stokes as a once-in-a-generation cricketer. McCullum said that Stokes, who missed the fifth Test due to an injury, puts his body on the line to make things work for his team. He elaborated:

"Stokes is a once in a generation cricketer. He makes things happen with bat in hand, he has the most Test sixes, and he absorbs pressure better than anyone I have ever seen. Obviously he is an inspirational captain who the guys follow.

"He is always looking how to advance the game and transfer pressure onto the opposition. Through force of will he is able to get things to work and sometimes that means he has to bowl long periods or has to take himself to dark places. You can't have one without the other and sometimes that does lead to injuries and that is just part and parcel of it. I would never want him to change. He will leave it all out there in Australia."

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir kicks aside Ben Stokes, Joe Root; crowns Harry Brook as PoTS in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy