Legendary England pacer James Anderson has been officially appointed as Lancashire's captain for the upcoming County Championship season at the age of 43.
James Anderson named Lancashire captain
The country's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, who made his first-class debut for the club in 2002, will now permanently lead the red-ball side in Division Two, having signed a new one-year contract in November following his international retirement in 2024. Anderson is already familiar with the role, having stepped in as the interim skipper last season. However after Keaton Jennings stepped down from the top role last year, Anderson has been entrusted with the key responsibility.
"Captaining Lancashire for the first time last season was a huge privilege and I'm honoured to take on the role full-time heading into the new season," Anderson said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"We've got a fantastic group of players, a great blend of youth and experience and I'm excited about what we can achieve together, with promotion back to Division One our number one priority," he added.
James Anderson's never-ending bond with Lancashire
Despite retiring from Test cricket in July 2024 with a remarkable England record of 704 Test wickets, and subsequently being conferred a knighthood, Anderson has displayed no intention of winding down his career with Lancashire, which began when he was a teenager in 2002. His commitment to the county remains strong; during last year's Championship campaign, he was effective, claiming 17 first-class wickets at an average of 25.94 across six appearances.
Keaton Jennings will retain his role as captain for the Vitality Blast competition, a format where James Anderson notably excelled in 2025, claiming 20 wickets at 16.10 as the club progressed to Finals Day. Additionally, Josh Bohannon will continue as the club vice-captain, a position he has held since his appointment in 2024.Lancashire's disappointing 2025 Championship season resulted in significant changes within the club. Head coach Dale Benkenstein paid the price for the team's failure to push for a return to the top flight. Subsequently, Steven Croft, a Lancashire veteran who retired at the end of 2024, was appointed as the new head coach and has demonstrated his faith by selecting his long-term former team-mate, James Anderson, as the new red-ball captain.
Anderson's first official match leading the Lancashire side will be an away fixture against Northamptonshire, scheduled to take place on April 3, 2026.