James Anderson: Surrey could give bowler chance to extend legendary career

James Anderson could be given the opportunity to extend his legendary career by joining Surrey.

England’s all-time leading wicket-taker has left Lancashire after not being offered a contract by the county for whom he first played professionally 25 years ago.

Although he will turn 45 in July 2027, Anderson has stopped short of retiring and said on his Tailenders podcast last week: “I am starting to get excited about the future, whether it is something different or playing cricket again. It is exciting.”

In the days after news emerged of Anderson’s exit from Lancashire, a number of clubs from both divisions of the County Championship expressed an interest in speaking to the seamer.

Though neither Anderson’s camp nor Surrey have commented, a move to The Oval would appear to make sense for both player and county.

Surrey have the financial means to sign Anderson and his addition would help a squad that features nine players on England central contracts.

Of the nine, three are frontline seamers who would be regulars around Surrey’s Championship team: Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher and Henry Crocombe.

Crocombe, a new arrival from Sussex, and Fisher have been given England deals for the first time.

For Anderson, joining a county with Surrey’s depth would present the opportunity for a managed workload. Playing a relatively reduced role for Surrey would perhaps avoid the need to move from his home in Cheshire.

It would also provide the chance to end his remarkable career with a challenge to win the County Championship.

With Surrey and Lancashire in different divisions of the Championship, it would also allow Anderson to continue playing without the prospect of coming up against his boyhood club.