Although Michael Atherton would have been tempted to offer the seasoned seam bowler a new contract, he has no problem with Lancashire’s handling of James Anderson’s discharge from the county. In the County Championship in 2026, Anderson, 44, took 50 wickets at an average of 17.68 while leading Lancashire to the second-bottom spot in Division Two.
Anderson, who led Lancashire’s red-ball team in the County Championship in 2026 and took 50 wickets at an average of 17.68, will not be getting a new contract for 2027. Paul Farbrace, the Red Rose’s new director of cricket, has said that he intends to develop an assault that is future-focused after the team placed second to last in Division Two that season.
While discussing the more general circumstances surrounding Anderson’s release, Atherton praised his outstanding performance from the previous season. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Atherton said that although Anderson was by far Lancashire’s best bowler in 2026, the club’s choice to proceed without him is indicative of Farbrace’s county strategy.
The source said, “Forget age, young or old, if you are good enough, you are good enough, so you can make a perfectly good argument he should still be leading that Lancashire attack. Where I disagree with some of the comments elsewhere is that it has not been handled well, both by England and Lancashire. When somebody like Paul Farbrace comes in as director of cricket at Lancashire, or in England’s case Rob Key, when they’ve decided to move on, how do you do that?”
He further added, “In both instances, Anderson was told face-to-face. It wasn’t done behind his back. Jimmy wasn’t expecting [his Lancashire release], it took him by surprise, but it was face-to-face. They told him the rationale and then when the members meeting was held, I think Farbrace was abroad, but he dialled in and didn’t hide behind the decision. He took full accountability for it. So I don’t think you can say it’s been handled badly. I thought England were right to move on at the stage that they did but Lancashire, if I’d have been in that position, I might have tried to get a season out of him next year.”
Atherton emphasized that direct communication was used by Lancashire and England to deal with Anderson’s departure. He clarified that Anderson was notified during a meeting with club management, guaranteeing that the bowler was informed directly rather than indirectly. Although Anderson was taken aback by the decision, Atherton pointed out that the way it was communicated showed respect for his 25-year relationship with the team, which started in 2002.
