James Anderson expressed sadness at being released by Lancashire but stopped short of confirming his retirement. The 44-year-old, England's all-time leading wicket-taker with 911 international wickets, was told he won't receive a new contract from the county he represented since 2001. In his first public comments, Anderson wrote on Instagram: "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." Despite turning 45 next year, Anderson had planned to play in 2027.
Other counties are interested in signing the seam bowler. Lancashire explained their decision as part of a rebuild under new chief executive Richard Kenyon and director of cricket Paul Farbrace, who aims to challenge for the County Championship within three to four years. Anderson's career includes 443 first-class wickets for Lancashire, 83 in List A, and 50 in T20s.
He played for the club for 25 years, calling it a dream come true.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing