James Anderson, England's legendary fast bowler, has hinted at a potential return to white-ball cricket, specifically in franchise T20 leagues, following his recent retirement from international Test cricket. Anderson, who ended his illustrious 188-Test career after playing against the West Indies at Lord's in July, expressed that he is still grappling with the reality of his retirement and is considering extending his playing days.
Despite not having played a T20 match for nearly a decade, Anderson remains optimistic about his ability to contribute in the shorter format of the game. He mentioned that watching The Hundred and seeing the ball swing in the early overs made him feel that he could still perform effectively in white-ball cricket.
In a candid interview with The Press Association, Anderson said, "I might be in a bit of denial because I’m well aware I won’t play for England again, but I’ve still not made a decision on my actual cricket career." He added that while he is aware of the challenges, the prospect of playing franchise cricket, which he has never done before, intrigues him.
Anderson last appeared in a T20 match in August 2014 for Lancashire, and has since focused solely on red-ball cricket. He ended his international career as England's highest wicket-taker in Test matches, with 690 wickets. In ODIs, Anderson also made a significant impact, taking 269 wickets in 194 matches, making him England's highest wicket-taker in the format.
As Anderson considers his options, his fans and the cricketing community will be keen to see if he makes a return to the field in a new role, perhaps in one of the many franchise leagues around the world.