Lancs thrilled to get 'inspirational' Anderson

Jimmy Anderson is available for Lancashire for the Championship and T20 Blast in 2025

Lancashire director of cricket Mark Chilton says it is great news for the club to have Jimmy Anderson available for them for the 2025 season.

Anderson will play in the County Championship and the T20 Blast for Lancashire after deciding to delay his retirement.

England's all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests, the 42-year-old has not played a match since his final Test, against the West Indies at Lord's last July.

"I find it fascinating and quite inspirational that Jimmy still has the desire to want to play and want to be part of what we're trying to achieve over the next year or two," Chilton told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"So we're all really looking forward to it."

'Icon of English cricket'

Since playing his 188th Test six months ago, Anderson has kept his options open.

He has worked as a bowling coach within the England set-up, while he put his name forward for the IPL auction, although no club signed him up.

Anderson played once for Lancashire last season and took 7-35 against Nottinghamshire at Southport in July, showing the impact that he can still have.

So Chilton recognises what a boost it is for the Red Rose and county cricket in general to have the veteran of 704 Test wickets still performing at a time when Championship stalwarts like Hampshire captain James Vince are considering their options.

"It's fantastic for everyone involved, the members, the supporters, the county game as well," he said.

"To have Jimmy back in that competition is great for everyone. He's an absolute icon of English cricket."

Chilton also says that Anderson's performance against Notts last summer shows that even at 42, his skills are not on the wane.

He adds: "He's fit enough, he still looks after himself and his age is just a number.

"He can play for as long as he feels capable of doing his job."

Jimmy Anderson has taken 376 first-class wickets for Lancashire in his career

Anderson will be available for all 14 of Lancashire's 14 matches in Division Two of the County Championship and their games in the north group of the T20 Blast, despite not playing any white-ball cricket since 2019.

He is currently in Abu Dhabi working with the England squad ahead of their forthcoming one-day tour of India.

And while Lancashire stress that playing will be Anderson's first commitment once the season begins on 4 April, Chilton is aware of balancing the schedule.

"Jimmy will fit his coaching and England and media commitments around the schedule," he said.

"We won't be playing him in 14 Championship games, we'll be managing his workload, like we do all our bowlers

"But it's like getting a top quality overseas player for a whole season, which is pretty challenging to do."