James Anderson returns to cricket! England star set to play County Championship

James Anderson, England’s greatest Test bowler and one of the best to ever play the game, is set to extend his cricketing career with Lancashire after signing a one-year contract for the 2025 season. The 42-year-old pacer, who retired from international cricket in 2024 after a record-breaking career, will play for the Red Rose in both the County Championship and the Vitality Blast.

James Anderson is back!

Lancashire Cricket confirmed the signing on Monday, expressing delight that James Anderson will continue to wear the club’s colors. Anderson made his debut for Lancashire in 2001 and has been a key figure at the club throughout his career. His decision to continue playing domestically comes after his final Test appearance in July 2024, which saw him end his international career with 704 wickets—the most by any England bowler in Test cricket.

Anderson excited to return to competitive cricket

Speaking about the new deal, Anderson shared his enthusiasm for returning to the field. “This Club has been a huge part of my life since I was a teenager, so to have the opportunity to wear the Red Rose again is really special,” he said. “I’ve been working hard on my fitness and bowling to ensure I can hit the ground running when the season starts.”

Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, Mark Chilton, praised Anderson’s commitment. “It’s fantastic news for the Club that Jimmy has chosen to continue his career with us. His desire to keep playing is stronger than ever, and having him in our squad will be invaluable.”

As for Lancashire, they will start their County Championship with a clash against Middlesex at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on April 4, 2025. Recently, Anderson even listed his name for the IPL 2025 mega auction at a base price of Rs 1.25 crore. However, he found no buyers in the cash-rich league, and we might now never see him play in the IPL.