England great James Anderson is set to extend his playing career past his 44th birthday by signing a contract extension to play for Lancashire in 2026. Seamer Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, agreed a year-long deal at Old Trafford for the 2025 season after retiring from international cricket in 2024. He took 17 wickets in six County Championship matches, but his performances in the shortest form of the game were particularly impressive.

Playing T20 cricket for the first time in 10 years, Anderson took 20 wickets in Lancashire's run to Blast finals day, form that earned him a deal with Manchester Originals in The Hundred - his first experience of franchise cricket. Anderson also captained Lancashire in the County Championship, a role he could resume in 2026. The new deal will extend Anderson's professional career to 25 years, having made his debut for Lancashire in 2001. He will turn 44 in July of next year. At the beginning of last season, Anderson suggested he could play three more years for Lancashire, which would take him to 2027 and the age of 45.

Anderson ended his legendary international career after the first Test against West Indies at Lord's in 2023 after being told he was no longer part of England's plans. The pace bowler sits third on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 704, behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. In April it was announced Anderson will be knighted for services to cricket, an honour he is set to collect in the coming weeks. In the aftermath of his international retirement Anderson served as bowling consultant for the England team, but stepped away from the role in the past summer to focus on playing for Lancashire.

Tim Southee stepped in, though the New Zealander is likely to only be available for the first Test of the upcoming Ashes series because of his own playing commitments. On Thursday, Southee said he is "still working through" his Ashes involvement, with England still to confirm their coaching team for the tour of Australia.