Cricket Legend Jimmy Anderson Mulls Franchise T20 Comeback After Watching the Hundred
Veteran English cricketer Jimmy Anderson is considering a potential return to the world of franchise T20 cricket, with an overseas stint potentially in the works this upcoming winter. The 42-year-old fast bowler, who recently retired from Test cricket, believes he can still thrive as a new-ball specialist in the shorter format, especially after observing the exciting action of The Hundred.
In a conversation with The Final Word cricket podcast, Anderson confirmed his desire to “give something back” to his county side Lancashire next summer and beyond, even as he transitions into a mentorship role with the England national team. While the assumption was that Anderson’s domestic focus would be on first-class cricket, the all-time leading wicket-taker in both Test and ODI cricket has now revealed his interest in the T20 circuit, a format he last featured in 10 years ago.
“I feel there is something there, that I still want to play a little bit more,” said Anderson. “Things will become clearer as the rest of the year progresses. 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 mentorship role is extended, covering tours of Pakistan and New Zealand before Christmas, the veteran pacer is open to exploring opportunities in leagues like the Big Bash or the SA20 in early 2025. His last T20 appearance came for Lancashire in the 2014 Blast Finals Day, but Anderson believes his skills, honed by bowling against England’s aggressive Test batters in the nets, are still up to the task.
“My body has at no stage started to feel like it’s 42,” Anderson emphasized. “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 a commentary career as another option, he harbors no resentment towards the England team over the handling of his Test retirement. The decision to end his illustrious Test career at Lord’s last month was mutually agreed upon with the team management, in contrast to the abrupt manner in which he was dropped for the Caribbean tour earlier this year.
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