Anderson, 44, not offered new Lancashire contract

James Anderson's legendary career could be over after Lancashire opted against offering England's all-time leading wicket-taker a new contract.

Anderson, 44, chose to continue playing with Lancashire after England forced him into international retirement in 2024.

He captained Lancashire in the County Championship last season but the Red Rose endured a poor campaign, finishing next to bottom of Division Two.

Now, as first reported by the Times, Anderson will not be given the opportunity to play at Old Trafford in 2027 - the summer when he will turn 45.

It is not known whether Anderson will retire or look to extend his 26-year professional career with another county.

Anderson first played top-level cricket as a 17-year-old for Lancashire Cricket Board in 2000, then made his Lancashire debut the following year.

His exit from the Red Rose comes at a time of upheaval at Old Trafford. The county are undergoing a review of their cricket operations, led by interim chair Dame Sarah Storey and new chief executive Richard Kenyon. Paul Farbrace was appointed as Lancashire's director of cricket earlier this month.

Although Anderson is in his mid-40s, he has remained in supreme form in a struggling team.

He took 50 wickets in the County Championship in 2026, a tally bettered by only six other bowlers in Division Two. Anderson was named Lancashire's Championship player of the year.

Overall, 443 of Anderson's 1,193 first-class wickets came for Lancashire, to go with 83 List A wickets and 50 T20 wickets for the county.

In a 23-year international career, Anderson took 991 wickets across formats for England. Only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Australia's Shane Warne have more in international cricket.

In 2024, Anderson became the third bowler in Test history, after Muralitharan and Warne, to reach 700 wickets. He remains third on the all-time list with 704, a record for a pace bowler that is unlikely to be broken.

Later that year, Anderson was asked to call time on his international career by England's then hierarchy of coach Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key.

He played his 188th and final Test against West Indies at Lord's before embarking on a short spell as England's bowling consultant.

In 2025, Anderson signed a new deal with Lancashire and suggested he could play county cricket for three more seasons. In April of that year, he was knighted for services to cricket.

Anderson stood in as Lancashire captain during the 2025 season and was given the job full-time for 2026.

He was understood to be enjoying the role and, at the end of the this summer, there was no suggestion Anderson would end his career.

On Wednesday, as reports of his exit from Old Trafford began to emerge, those close to Anderson were unaware of the situation. Lancashire have not commented.