James Anderson is set to continue playing professional cricket for another season. The veteran England fast bowler has signed a one-year extension deal with his county Lancashire for the upcoming 2025 season.
He will be available to feature in the entire season of the County Championship. Anderson will also play the T20 Blast. His last T20 appearance was in the Blast way back in 2014. The Lancashire pacer has played only 44 T20 matches in his career so far.
It was in July last year that he hung up his boots from Test cricket, finishing with a staggering 704 wickets at an average of 26.45. However, since retiring from international cricket, Anderson donned the role of England’s bowling consultant. He was with the team throughout the summer before he extended his stint through the tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.
The 42-year-old Burnley pacer had even expressed his desire to play franchise T20 cricket around the world. He put his name in the IPL auction for the 2025 season as well but was unsold.
Anderson is very excited to resume playing cricket once again. He has played all his life for Lancashire and believes that they have played a massive role in his career.
“I am incredibly excited to sign this contract with Lancashire and resume playing professional cricket again next season. This club has played a huge part in my life since I was a teenager, so to have the opportunity to wear the Red Rose again and help the side in both red and white ball cricket is one that I am really looking forward to,” Anderson was quoted saying after the deal was signed.
I love playing at Emirates Old Trafford: James Anderson

The 188-Test-old pacer admitted that he has been bowling regularly during his time as a bowling consultant with England. He is trying to keep himself fully fit in order to hit his straps straightaway when the English county season kicks off in April.
“I have been working hard on keeping my fitness levels high and continuing to bowl regularly during my time as a coach with England throughout the winter, with the aim of being able to hit the ground running when the county season starts in April. I love playing at Emirates Old Trafford and to have the chance to walk out and bowl in front of our Members and supporters again this summer is going to be really special,” the 42-year-old added.
His last appearance for Lancashire was in the 2024 season just before he announced his Test retirement. Anderson returned with figures of 7/35 & 1/29 in that fixture against Nottingham.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Anderson is currently in Abu Dhabi with the England pacers who are going to travel to India for a white-ball series, starting on the 22nd of January (five T20Is and three ODIs). Moreover, he is likely to be a part of England’s backroom staff for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy.