Legendary fast bowler James Anderson left shocked by Lancashire departure

Legendary fast bowler James Anderson admits he was left questioning his own character after being dumped by his home county Lancashire.

The county announced on Sunday that the Burnley-born seamer would not have his contract renewed, although the news had been widely reported the previous week.

It came after a season in which Anderson, despite the county’s poor results which saw them finish second bottom in Division Two of the County Championship, had taken 50 wickets at an average of 17 and been named as their player of the year.

Lancashire's decision was made by their incoming director of cricket Paul Farbrace, who held a meeting with Anderson and Lancashire's new chief executive Richard Kenyon.

It mirrors the way the 44-year-old was told his international career was over by England’s management in 2024 after 188 Tests and a record 704 wickets for a fast bowler.

Speaking on the Tailenders podcast, Anderson - who skippered Lancashire last season, said: "I went in for what I thought was a conversation about how the team moves forward.

"It wasn't a great year for the team. Being captain I thought it was chat about that.

"A couple of minutes in I realised it wasn't a conversation. I was being told they thought the best way for the team to move forward was without me.

"I was quite shocked. It was quite brief."

"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 am thinking 'this is happening again. Is there something fundamentally wrong with me as a person?' Your head just sort of 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."

Anderson revealed he is excited about what the future holds whether that involves continuing his playing career or not.

"I am starting to get excited about the future, whether it is something different or playing cricket again. It is exciting.

"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."

He added: "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.

"I was born there, grew up watching them, had some of my most memorable days out with dad watching them, got to play for them and captain the club, which is something most people dream about.

"I feel like I have a special connection with the club and will always support them."