James Anderson is in talks to join Surrey next season and extend his career in county cricket.
Anderson, 44, was let go from boyhood club Lancashire in October after more than 25 years’ service, a decision he said left him “sad” and “quite shocked” and made him wonder if there was something “fundamentally wrong with me as a person”.
England’s all-time leading striker told his BBC Tailenders podcast last month that he had not decided whether he would pursue a deal elsewhere, but Sky Sports News understands he is in negotiations with Surrey and could play at The Kia Oval, a venue where he claimed 50 wickets in 16 Tests between 2003 and 2023.
Anderson, who turns 45 in July next year, may now have the chance to add to his tally of 1,193 first-class wickets and perhaps add more silverware to a glittering CV that includes four Ashes series wins and the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Anderson left Lancashire despite the prolific season
The Burnley-born player took 50 wickets at an average of 17.68 in the County Championship Division Two for Lancashire in 2026.
His exit from Old Trafford came as the hierarchy, including new director of cricket Paul Farbrace, plotted to build an attack for the future after a couple of poor seasons in red-ball cricket.
Anderson captained Lancashire last season as the county finished bottom of the second tier, ahead of only Gloucestershire.
marine – who is set to play in the Italia T10 for Napoli Knights later this month – forced to retire from England in 2024.
Anderson took four wickets in his last Test, against the West Indies at Lord’s, to finish with 704 wickets in 188 matches in the longest format, at an average of 26.45.
He is the most prolific pace bowler in Test history, with only Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australian spinner Shane Warne (708) taking more wickets.
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Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Stuart Broad described Lancashire’s decision not to renew Anderson’s contract as “disrespectful” (Credit: For the Love of Cricket)
Atherton: Lancashire did not handle Anderson’s release badly
Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket Podcast Recently, Michael Atherton disagreed with the view of some that Lancashire had mishandled Anderson’s release.
“When someone like Farbrace comes in as Lancashire’s director of cricket, or in England’s case Rob Key, when they’ve decided to move on, how do you do that?” said Sky Sports pundit and former England captain Atherton.
“In both cases, Anderson was told to his face. It wasn’t done behind his back.
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Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain and Kumar Sangakkara reflect on Anderson’s departure from Lancashire
“Lancashire told him the reasoning and then when the members’ meeting was held, I think Farbrace was out of the country, but he called and didn’t hide behind the decision.
“He took full responsibility for it, so I don’t think you can say it was handled badly.”
Anderson made his Lancashire debut in List A cricket in 2001 before making a first-class debut a year later.
