Former England Captain Michael Atherton has defended Lancashire’s handling of James Anderson‘s departure but questioned whether the county made the right decision to release its leading wicket-taker after another outstanding season.
Anderson, 44, will leave Lancashire after the club decided against extending his contract for 2027, despite taking 50 County Championship wickets at an average of 17.68 during his final season as red-ball Captain.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Atherton said: “I think you can argue about the merits of the decision as he was Lancashire’s best bowler by a country mile last season.”
Atherton questions Lancashire’s decision to release Anderson
Lancashire finished second-bottom of Division Two in the 2026 County Championship, with incoming Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace prioritising a rebuild aimed at restoring the club to the top flight.
As previously reported by cricexec, Farbrace informed Anderson of the decision during a meeting at Emirates Old Trafford in October. The county outlined plans to reshape its playing squad and wider cricket operations, bringing an end to Anderson’s 25-year association with Lancashire.
Atherton believes Anderson’s performances made a compelling case for keeping him regardless of his age.
“Forget age, young or old, if you are good enough, you are good enough, so you can make a perfectly good argument he should still be leading that Lancashire attack,” Atherton added.
Anderson’s departure follows the conclusion of his England Test career in July 2024, when the national team’s management decided to move forward without him. He retired from international cricket with 704 Test wickets, the most by an England bowler.
Atherton defends how Lancashire communicated the decision
While questioning the sporting merits of Lancashire’s decision, Atherton rejected criticism of the way Anderson’s departure was managed.
He drew parallels with England’s handling of the fast bowler’s international retirement, arguing that administrators must sometimes make difficult decisions about established players.
“In both instances, Anderson was told face-to-face. It wasn’t done behind his back. Jimmy wasn’t expecting \[his Lancashire release\], it took him by surprise, but it was face-to-face,” Atherton stated.
Atherton also highlighted Farbrace’s willingness to explain the decision directly to Lancashire members rather than distance himself from it.
“They told him the rationale and then when the members meeting was held, I think Farbrace was abroad, but he dialled in and didn’t hide behind the decision. He took full accountability for it,” he said.
Despite supporting the way both departures were communicated, Atherton distinguished between England’s decision to end Anderson’s international career and Lancashire’s choice not to retain him.
“I thought England were right to move on at the stage that they did but Lancashire, if I’d have been in that position, I might have tried to get a season out of him next year,” Atherton added.
What next for James Anderson?
Anderson has yet to decide whether he will continue playing county cricket after leaving Lancashire.
Speaking on the BBC’s _Tailenders_ podcast, the veteran fast bowler indicated that a move to Lancashire’s rivals Yorkshire was unlikely, although he has not ruled out extending his playing career elsewhere.
He is also preparing to feature in the Italia T10 League in Rome later this month. As reported previously by cricexec, Anderson has become a Co-owner of Napoli Knights, adding a franchise ownership role to his involvement in the sport.
His next move remains uncertain, with the decision resting on whether he wants to continue playing beyond his long association with Lancashire.
