A ‘shocked’ James Anderson opens up on Lancashire exit

James Anderson is weighing up whether to continue his professional career after admitting his exit from Lancashire left him questioning if there is “something fundamentally wrong with me as a person”.

Lancashire finished second bottom of Division Two in the County Championship under the captaincy of Anderson, who nevertheless claimed a fantastic haul of 50 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 17.68.

But incoming director of cricket Paul Farbrace alongside new chief executive Richard Kenyon informed England’s record wicket-taker in a meeting last Monday his contract would not be renewed for 2027, signalling a second understated farewell for Anderson.

Lancashire’s decision mirrors the end of his international career two years ago, when he was told by the director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes he was surplus to requirements.

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Similar

“It feels very similar,” the 44-year-old said on his Tailenders podcast.

“Last year didn’t go too well for us and all through the season, myself and the head coach were saying ‘is it something we’re doing?’.

“I finished the season thinking ‘was it something I did? Was I doing something wrong?’. And then I get told this news and now I’m thinking it even more.

“I’m thinking ‘this is happening again, is there something fundamentally wrong with me as a person?’.

“Your head just races and I didn’t know what to make of it for a good week.

“You’re thinking ‘I’m never going to play cricket again’.”

Shocked

“I went in for what I thought was a conversation about how the team moves forward,” Anderson added.

”It wasn’t a great year for the team. Being captain I thought it was to chat about that.

“A couple of minutes in I realised it wasn’t a conversation. I was being told they thought the best way for the team to move forward was without me.

“I was quite shocked. It was quite brief and that was it.”

All other counties are now on high alert for the possibility of securing Anderson’s signature ahead of the 2027 season.

Asked whether he plans to extend his remarkable career, Anderson, who will turn 45 next July, replied: “I’m still trying to process everything and weigh up what the best way forward for me is, really.

“Obviously I wanted to see my career out with Lancs. I don’t know if my career’s done, we’ll just have to wait and see, but it’d be nice if someone let me retire.”

Sad the way it ended

The way Lancashire’s hierarchy have treated the legendary bowler has been divisive for club members.

Meanwhile, his long-time England opening bowling partner Stuart Broad labelled it “disrespectful”.

Anderson’s career at Lancashire spanned more than a quarter of a century, claiming 443 wickets in first-class cricket for the Red Rose, as well as 83 in List A matches and 50 in T20s.

“It’s been 10 days since it happened,” he added.

“I am starting to get excited about the future and whether it is something different, whether it is playing cricket again, there’s exciting challenges ahead.

“I’ve got to attack it like that and not dwell too much on how or why it finished at Lancs. It is sad the way it ended with the club I supported as a kid.

“I was born there, grew up watching them, had some of my most memorable days out with dad watching them, got to play for them and captain the club, which is something most people dream about.

“I feel like I have a special connection with the club and will always support them.”

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