James Anderson is weighing up his future - whether that involves playing cricket or "something different" - after being told his Lancashire contract would not be renewed. Anderson - who first played List A cricket with Lancashire as a 17-year-old in 2000 - will see his 26-year association with the club end, despite taking 50 wickets at an average of 17 amid their struggles in Division Two of the County Championship in 2026. Speaking on the BBC's Tailenders podcast, England's all-time leading wicket taker said the decision made him question whether something was "wrong" with his character after his side finished second bottom of the table.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "All of the way through the season myself and the head coach were like 'is it something we are doing? Could we be doing more to help the team?'" Anderson said. "I finished the season thinking 'was it something I did?
Was I doing something wrong?' - and then I get this news - now I am thinking that even more. "I'm thinking 'this is happening again - is there something fundamentally wrong with me as a person?' Your head just races. "I wanted to see my career out with Lancs.
I don't know if my career is done, we will have to wait and see, but it would be nice at some point if someone would let me retire." Despite the controversy surrounding the end of his Lancashire tenure, the seamer remains optimistic about a future within or outside of cricket. He added: "I'm starting to get excited about the future, whether it's something different or playing cricket again. "There are exciting challenges ahead.
I have to attack it like that and not dwell too much on how or why it finished at Lancs. "I am sad the way it ended with the club I supported as a kid but now I have thought about it I am quite excited for the future. "I am always going to support Lancashire." May 2002 - Anderson makes first-class debut for Lancashire; takes his maiden first-class wicket in May, dismissing Ian Ward.
December 15, 2002 - Anderson makes ODI debut for England against Australia in Melbourne, aged 20. February-March 2003 - Anderson selected in England's squad for 2003 Cricket World Cup, producing match-winning spell against Pakistan. England lose to eventual champions Australia.
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