James Anderson Set to Resume Playing Career with Lancashire at 43

James Anderson is conversing with Lancashire about getting back into playing this summer when he's going to be 43. It's been almost a year since his last game, but he's ready to get back and play in every type of match with Lancashire. Even though he's not playing in international Test cricket anymore, Anderson truly desires to continue and help out his favorite county cricket team.Mister Anderson's known as one of the top fast bowlers in cricket ever, and he's not done yet.

A Year After His Farewell Test at Lord’s

Anderson still thinks he has many things to offer, and his passion for cricket is making him consider returning to play with Lancashire, the team he started with when he was just a teenager. Since that special farewell match at Lord's against the West Indies in July 2024, he hasn't played at all. His incredible trip got him 704 test wickets, but then the England team leaders decided it was time to look ahead without him.

🚨 43 YEAR OLD JIMMY ANDERSON TO PLAY COUNTY. 🚨

- Anderson will be representing Lancashire in the County Championship. (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/87tm0H70Ze

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 10, 2025

Fitness and Readiness

Anderson has been keeping himself fit by regularly bowling in the nets and doing conditioning work with England's strength and fitness coaches, during their tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, before Christmas. He believes he can continue performing well and have a strong season with Lancashire when it begins in April. This might be his goodbye season with his county team—but if things go well, he might think about playing for more time.

Balancing Playing and Coaching Duties

Anderson has decided to keep playing into his 40s because he really loves cricket, similar to how Sir Alastair Cook kept playing for Essex for five years after he retired, in 2018, from international Test cricket. Besides just playing, Anderson will also keep his job as a bowling coach for the England Test team. The result? He must handle playing for Lancashire, his coaching responsibilities with England, and any work he does with the media.

ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant's Defence Unmatched: Ashwin Makes a Daring Claim

Lancashire’s Hopes for the Season

Lancashire is very eager to return after getting bumped down from Division One of the County Championship last year, and having Anderson around is going to be a major boost for them to reach that level again. They want the experienced bowler, Anderson, to play in at least five rounds of the County Championship before he has to join up with the England team again for the Test summer. The team's management is eager to have him return.

A Return to Lord’s and Old Trafford

Anderson might play his last season in domestic cricket, starting with Lancashire's first game at their home ground, Old Trafford, against Northants on April 11. The season begins at Lord's on April 4, where Anderson can go back to the place where he started playing for England.

The Legacy Continues

Anderson coming back to play county cricket is very important news, not simply for him but also for the team. Young players get a great opportunity to bat against Anderson, who's a legend when it comes to fast bowling, especially with the Dukes ball in red-ball cricket. His being there is a big positive for Lancashire--but it's also wonderful for young hitters in the County Championship because they get to go against facing a very good bowler.

Despite being unsold at the IPL auction in January, Anderson’s passion for the game remains undiminished. The prospect of playing white-ball cricket again is not ruled out, and his return to Lancashire could mark the beginning of a final, memorable chapter in a career that has already spanned over two decades.

James Anderson Career Stats

Bowling

Format	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling	BBM	Average	Economy	Strike Rate	4-Wicket Hauls	5-Wicket Hauls	10-Wicket Hauls
Tests	188	350	40,037	18,627	704	7/42	11/71	26.45	2.79	56.8	32	32	3
ODIs	194	191	9,584	7,861	269	5/23	5/23	29.22	4.92	35.6	11	2	0
T20Is	19	19	422	552	18	3/23	3/23	30.66	7.84	23.4	0	0	0
First-Class (FC)	298	-	59,221	27,610	1,126	7/19	-	24.52	2.79	52.5	48	55	6
List A	261	-	12,730	10,230	358	5/23	5/23	28.57	4.82	35.5	11	2	0
T20s	44	44	933	1,318	41	3/23	3/23	32.14	8.47	22.7	0	0	0