Jimmy Anderson eyes T20 franchise foray as strike bowler

Jimmy Anderson is considering a late foray into the world of playing franchise T20 cricket – potentially starting overseas this winter – after watching the Hundred and believing he can deliver as a new-ball bowler at that level.

Speaking to The Final Word cricket podcast, the 42-year-old confirmed he is still keen to “give something back” to Lancashire in a playing capacity next summer – and possibly beyond – despite slipping into a role as England’s bowling mentor after his emotional retirement from Test cricket at Lord’s last month.

Related: Jimmy Anderson insists he ‘could still do a job’ for England as final Test looms

But while the assumption has been that Anderson’s focus would be on first-class cricket were he to continue bowling domestically, England’s record wicket-taker in both Test and ODI cricket has revealed that the T20 circuit has now entered his thoughts 10 years on from his last appearance in the shortest format.

“I feel there is something there, that I still want to play a little bit more,” said Anderson, whose role with England currently only runs to the end of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka that gets under way at Old Trafford next week.

“Things will become clearer as the rest of the year progresses. There’s two Test tours in the winter and I’m not sure I’ll be on them in this [mentor] role.

“I watch the Hundred and see the ball swinging around in the first 20 balls and I think: ‘I can do that, I can still do that’. I don’t know if that is a viable option, to maybe see if I could do a job in white-ball cricket. Franchise cricket is something I’ve never done.”

Even if Anderson’s England role is extended and takes him to the tours of Pakistan and New Zealand, both sit this side of Christmas and thus make either the Big Bash League or the SA20 options in early 2025. And while his last T20 outing came for Lancashire on Blast Finals Day in 2014, Anderson believes his skills have been kept up to scratch bowling at England’s aggressive Test batters in the nets.

Anderson said: “I still feel [playing domestically] is not off the table. The way that my body feels, the way I have been bowling in recent years, I still feel I could potentially have something to offer on that front.

“My body has at no stage started to feel like it’s 42. I will dive around the tennis court and I will still dive around the field when I’m playing for Burnley CC in five years’ time, until I literally can’t move. That’s why I want to keep going. I feel I was made to bowl quickly, to be a bowler, so while it’s still functioning, use it.

“Bowling at the England lads in the nets, you have to have change-ups and slower balls. We constantly work it, so I don’t think [the skills and variations] will be an issue. But I don’t know how much people will want a 42-year-old bowler in their team so we’ll have to wait and see.”

While Anderson considers options that also include a commentary career, he harbours no resentment towards England over the handling of his enforced retirement.

Related: Jimmy Anderson signs off with wicket in England’s innings win over West Indies

It led to Brendon McCullum, the head coach, flying over from New Zealand back in April to deliver the news in person, something which sat in contrast to the way Anderson was dropped for a tour of the Caribbean in early 2022.

Explaining the option presented to him by McCullum and team director Rob Key, Anderson said: “It was ‘Lord’s or never again’ and I decided I wanted to have one more go in England; I wanted my family and friends to see me play one more time.

“England felt it was a good time to look at other players and wanted to go in a different direction. It happened to me a couple of years ago [before the Caribbean tour] and I felt a bit aggrieved with how it was done, a quick phone call.

“This time it felt like more thought went into it; it felt like it was the right time. I wouldn’t say I was happy but I didn’t kick off, I didn’t feel upset and having the opportunity to stay around the group in a different role interested me as well.”