James Anderson 'shocked' by Lancashire release and undecided on future
James Anderson said he was "sad" and "shocked" after being released by Lancashire and remains undecided about whether he will continue his career at another county, speaking on the Tailenders podcast for the first time since being told his Lancashire contract would not be renewed. Anderson is England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 704 dismissals.
The 44-year-old described the news as a personal blow and spoke openly about his reaction on the podcast, saying the decision had made him question himself. He said he had expected a discussion about how the team moves forward rather than being told he would not be part of those plans.
Anderson said he had taken 50 wickets in the County Championship and served as Lancashire captain last season, but that the club's new hierarchy had informed him they wanted to build an attack for the future. "I went in for what I thought was a conversation about how the team moves forward," he said. "It wasn't a great year for the team. Being captain I thought it was chat about that."
Describing the meeting, Anderson added: "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." Lancashire's decision was made by their incoming director of cricket Paul Farbrace, who held a meeting with Anderson and Lancashire's new chief executive Richard Kenyon.
Despite Anderson's contributions, Lancashire finished second bottom in Division Two of the County Championship. The article notes that in 2024 England also chose to move on from their record wicket-taker as they attempted to refresh and build an attack for the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia.
On his own thinking since receiving the news, Anderson said: "All of the way through the season myself and the head coach were like 'is it something we are doing? Could we be doing more to help the team?'" He added: "I finished the season thinking 'was it something I did? Was I doing something wrong?' - and then I get this news. 'Now I am thinking that even more. I am thinking 'this is happening again. Is there something fundamentally wrong with me as a person?' Your head just sort of races.'"
The decision provoked anger among Lancashire members and drew criticism from Anderson's former England bowling partner Stuart Broad, who called it "pretty disrespectful" and said it showed a lack of leadership given the veteran was not given a farewell. Anderson first played List A cricket in 2000 as a 17-year-old for the Lancashire Cricket Board against Suffolk; in addition to his 911 international wickets - an England record and a record for all pace bowlers - he claimed 443 first-class scalps for Lancashire, along with 83 in List A cricket and a further 50 in T20s.
Anderson said he would like to see out his career with Lancashire but was unsure whether that remained possible. He joked he "wouldn't have thought" he could play for Lancashire's historic rivals Yorkshire and added: "I am still trying to process everything and weigh up the best way forward for me. It has been 10 days since it happened. I am starting to get excited about the future, whether it is something different or playing cricket again. It is exciting. There are exciting challenges ahead. I have to attack it like that and not dwell too much on how or why it finished at Lancs." He also said: "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. I am always going to support Lancashire. 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."
It is understood other counties are interested in signing the bowler, who turns 45 next summer, and Lancashire are considering an Anderson farewell amid fan unrest.