OtherSunday, October 25, 20262 min read

'If it was up to me': Anderson admits Lancashire exit was not how he wanted it to end

By SHUBHANSHU DWIVEDI · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departure from the club was not how he wanted it to end. The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disappointment in a social media post, stating that he would have preferred the 2027 season to end differently.

Key points

James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departur…: James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departure from the club was not how he wanted it to end.
The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disa…: The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disappointment in a social media post, stating that he would have preferred the 2027 season to end differently.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

James Anderson has confirmed that his departure from Lancashire was not how he wanted his time at the club to end.

The 44-year-old had a strong season as captain in 2026, taking 50 wickets at an average of 17, despite Lancashire's struggles in Division Two of the County Championship. However, the county have decided against offering him a new contract for the 2027 season, bringing his 25-year association with the club to an end.

Anderson expressed his disappointment in a social media post, writing: "I've supported Lancashire since I was a kid and so to get to play for them for 25 years was a dream come true.

"I have always found it special walking out to play at Old Trafford and have some incredible memories of doing so, including the honour of being captain - if it was up to me it wouldn't have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future."

Anderson has not said whether he intends to continue playing for another county.

The Lancashire departure comes two years after Anderson's England Test career ended in 2024. England's highest Test wicket-taker, he claimed 704 wickets in 188 matches, making him the most successful fast bowler in the history of the game.

His exit from the England Test set-up was also not his decision. Then head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes decided that Anderson was not part of their plans going forward.

He continued to play for Lancashire after leaving international cricket and was named captain of his boyhood club last year. An end at Old Trafford, Lancashire's home ground, has also been named after him.

Born in Burnley, Anderson made his Lancashire debut in 2001 and went on to become one of the most successful fast bowlers in cricket.

In addition to his 704 wickets in 188 Tests for England, he took 269 wickets in 194 One-Day Internationals and 18 wickets in 19 T20 Internationals.

For Lancashire, Anderson claimed 443 wickets in 112 first-class appearances. He also took 83 wickets in 61 List A matches and 50 wickets in 40 T20 appearances for the county.

Original source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

AI Analysis

Tone

Negative

In short

Key Points

James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departur…: James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departure from the club was not how he wanted it to end.
The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disa…: The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disappointment in a social media post, stating that he would have preferred the 2027 season to end differently.

Topics

Other

Was this summary useful?

AI Analysis

Tone

Negative

In short

Key Points

James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departur…: James Anderson, who has been with Lancashire for 25 years, has admitted that his departure from the club was not how he wanted it to end.
The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disa…: The 44-year-old captain, who has taken 50 wickets at an average of 17, has expressed disappointment in a social media post, stating that he would have preferred the 2027 season to end differently.

Topics

Other

Was this summary useful?

Suspect in deadly Paris suburb shooting sent for psychiatric observation
The 39-year-old man, identified as Kevin T, was found to have cannabis and cocaine in his bloodstream and was found to have targeted people of migrant origin. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) said the move was a "turning point in the life of our Republic and our nation" and was likely to last 48 hours. The suspect was also found to have a Bible, a Quran, and a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf at his home.
2 min read
What makes a good spine-tingler? Stephen Graham Jones says it's all in the ending
Stephen Graham Jones, a professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder, shares that the craft of writing a good story is primarily about the mechanics of the ending, with the actual art of storytelling becoming clearer as the story reaches its climax. Jones emphasizes that the ending is what people are seeking when they flock to horror experiences, as it provides a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, symbolizing the hope for a resolution and closure.
3 min read
Amid bomb threat, Amitabh Bachchan greets fans, son Abhishek joins him
Amid a bomb threat email targeting Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow, the actor greeted fans and his son Abhishek joined him, security was heightened, and Bachchan shared his health update and hosted a quiz show.
1 min read

'If it was up to me': Anderson admits Lancashire exit was not how he wanted it to end

In short

Key points

More in Other