Former England Stalwart Jimmy Anderson Eyes Indian Premier League Stint After Test Retirement
Four months after bidding farewell to international cricket, legendary England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson has put his name forward for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The 42-year-old, who retired from Test cricket following the tour of the West Indies earlier this year, has never played in the lucrative T20 league before.
Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 704 scalps, has not featured in any Twenty20 cricket for a decade. However, in the aftermath of his final Test appearance against Sri Lanka in June, the veteran expressed his desire to try his hand at the franchise circuit before hanging up his boots.
England’s IPL Hopefuls
With none of England’s top white-ball stars, including the likes of Jos Buttler and Sam Curran, retained by their respective IPL franchises for the 2025 season, Anderson will be joining a pool of 49 other English hopefuls vying for a contract. While Test captain Ben Stokes has opted not to enter the auction, fellow 2019 World Cup hero Jofra Archer will be in the mix following his comeback from injury troubles.
“I’ve really enjoyed still being around the group,” he told Mail Sport. “I found the switch relatively straightforward, because it’s probably been my job for the last 10 or so years, being a senior bowler in the team and helping the other guys by leading the attack on the field and also trying to help new guys settle in. It’s always nice to win Test matches, and I still get a lot of satisfaction out of being part of it.”
Since retirement, Anderson has been actively involved in overseeing the development of a highly exciting group of English quicks.
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