James Anderson signs new deal to play on with Lancashire

Sir James Anderson has signed a new one-year contract at Lancashire, meaning England’s all-time record wicket-taker will carry on playing beyond his 44th birthday.

Having been deemed surplus to requirements by England last year, Anderson put pen to paper on a 12-month deal to play the 2025 season at Emirates Old Trafford, where he has an end named after him.

Anderson claimed 17 wickets in six Rothesay County Championship outings and impressed in the Vitality Blast, his first T20 cricket for a decade, to earn a spot in The Hundred for Manchester Originals.

He has now committed to playing in the County Championship and T20 Blast in 2026 to extend his professional career to a quarter of a century, having made his first appearance for Lancashire in 2001.

Anderson, who will turn 44 next July, said: “I’ve really enjoyed my cricket this year and still feel like I’ve got plenty to offer.

“I’m as hungry as ever to perform and contribute to the team’s success across both red- and white-ball cricket.”

Anderson, who captained Lancashire in red-ball cricket this year, received his knighthood for services to cricket at Windsor Castle last month.

The fast bowler retired from England duty with a farewell Test against the West Indies at Lord’s in July 2024 and finished his international career with 704 wickets, a record for a non-spinner.

Only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia’s Shane Warne have taken more but while Anderson has dipped his toes into coaching with a consultancy role with England, he stood down from the position this summer to play for Lancashire.

He added: “I’m absolutely delighted to sign for another year with Lancashire. This club has been my home since I was a teenager, and I still get the same buzz walking out at Emirates Old Trafford that I did when I made my debut.

“We’ve got a really talented squad with great ambitions, and I’m looking forward to helping the group continue to develop, while supporting (head coach Steven) Crofty in his new role as we push for promotion and trophies in 2026.”

Lancashire’s director of cricket performance Mark Chilton added: “We’re thrilled that Jimmy has committed to another season with Lancashire. His performances in 2025 showed exactly why he remains one of the finest bowlers in the game – his skill and competitiveness on the field are unmatched.

“Jimmy continues to be an outstanding role model for our players, raising standards every day and it was brilliant to see the impact he made on the dressing room when he stepped into the County Championship captaincy role during the second half of last season.

“Having him continue with us into 2026 is fantastic news and a huge boost for everyone at Emirates Old Trafford ahead of next season.”