England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson says he is "sad" and "shocked" after being released by Lancashire, the county he has represented since 2000. The 44-year-old, who took 50 wickets in the County Championship and served as captain last season, was informed by the club's new hierarchy that they want to build an attack for the future.
Anderson revealed on the Tailenders podcast that the meeting with incoming director of cricket Paul Farbrace and chief executive Richard Kenyon was brief and not a conversation about the team's direction as he had expected. "I was quite shocked. It was quite brief," he said. The decision comes after Lancashire finished second bottom in Division Two of the County Championship.
The veteran bowler, who has 911 international wickets and 443 first-class wickets for Lancashire, admitted the news made him question himself, especially after a similar exit from the England team in 2024. "I am thinking 'this is happening again. Is there something fundamentally wrong with me as a person?'" Anderson said. Former England partner Stuart Broad called the move "pretty disrespectful" and criticised the lack of a farewell.
While other counties are reportedly interested in signing Anderson, who turns 45 next summer, he remains undecided on whether to continue playing. He joked that a move to historic rivals Yorkshire was unlikely, but said he is starting to feel excited about the future, whether in cricket or a new challenge. "I am sad the way it ended with the club I supported as a kid but now I have thought about it I am quite excited for the future," he added.
