Lancashire will not offer James Anderson a new contract, reports say

James Anderson will not be offered a new Lancashire contract for 2027, according to BBC Sport, leaving the future of England’s leading wicket-taker unresolved. The broadcaster said the decision was first reported by The Times. Anderson, 44, has continued playing county cricket since his international career ended in 2024, but it is not known whether he will retire or seek a place elsewhere.

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The reported decision comes after a productive individual season in a difficult year for Lancashire. Anderson took 50 County Championship wickets in 2026, with only six bowlers in Division Two recording a higher total. He was also named the county’s Championship player of the year. Lancashire nevertheless finished second from bottom in the division, with Anderson serving as captain throughout the campaign.

His departure would coincide with changes to the club’s cricket leadership. BBC Sport reported that Lancashire are reviewing their cricket operations under interim chair Dame Sarah Storey and new chief executive Richard Kenyon. Paul Farbrace was appointed director of cricket earlier this month. Lancashire had not commented on Anderson’s situation at the time of the report, and people close to the bowler were said to have been unaware as the news emerged on Wednesday.

Anderson’s Lancashire connection stretches back more than two decades. He played top-level cricket for Lancashire Cricket Board in 2000, aged 17, before making his Lancashire debut in 2001. Of his 1,193 first-class wickets, 443 came for the county. He has also taken 83 List A wickets and 50 in T20 cricket for Lancashire.

For England, Anderson finished with 704 Test wickets, the most by a pace bowler and third overall behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. His final Test was his 188th, against West Indies at Lord’s in 2024. He subsequently spent a short period working as England’s bowling consultant.

Anderson signed a new Lancashire deal in 2025 and suggested then that he could continue in county cricket for another three seasons. After standing in as captain that year, he took the role permanently for 2026. The latest reporting leaves that playing ambition uncertain; it does not establish that Anderson has decided to retire.