Sir James Anderson’s impressive bowling has led Lancashire County Cricket Club to banish last season’s demons as they look to build on an unbeaten start to the County Championship Division 2 season.
Last season they failed to gain promotion after starting the campaign eight games without a win, despite ending with only one defeat in the final six games to finish fifth.
Prior to his first season as full-time captain, Anderson set out demands to not repeat this feat with building on the strong end to the season key for his side.
Anderson said: “Last year we started really poorly in the Championship.
“The first seven or eight weeks were where we fell down and slipped up so I think that is a big thing for us to start where we finished last year.
“We finished really strongly and just trying to make sure we are as consistent as we can be, with both personal performances and team performances.
“But I think we are in a good place and we are excited for the challenges ahead.”
After enjoying his stand-in role last season, Anderson is relishing the upcoming challenges with what he believes is a strong Lancashire squad, with the early games of this campaign backing up the strength in-depth the club possess.
(Photo by Liam Fletcher, LJMU Student)
Anderson said: “We have got a squad of near to 30 players so trying to pick eleven out of that is difficult.
“Keeping everyone happy is difficult but exciting at the same time that we have such a strong squad and we have an opportunity to win things.”
Lancashire and Anderson’s upturn in form and fortunes
The season has started brilliantly for Lancashire as the side sit top of Division 2 with two wins from the first three games, a stark contrast from the struggles of last campaign.
Anderson has been a standout performer himself, with 21 wickets at an average of 12.09 over the opening three matches.
The England legend has already surpassed his 2025 County Championship statistics as the bowler only managed 17 wickets across six games.
Data from ESPNcricinfo shows Anderson has recorded more wickets to start this season than in either of his past four County Championship campaigns since 2022.
This is testament to the 43-year-old’s resilience as he is leading from the front with the full-time captaincy after filling in as stand in last season.
Anderson expressed his excitement of his leadership role on Lancashire’s media day at Old Trafford.
He has his eyes set on one goal for Lancashire for the season ahead: promotion back to Division 1, with the quick start to the season helping his team to push towards this feat.
Is age catching up with Anderson?
However, Anderson is a doubt for this Friday’s match at Durham after the 43-year-old has played in all three games so far this season.
Lancashire head coach Steven Croft remains wary to not push the former England international too far despite his incredible condition.
Croft told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I think it’s a bit of a waiting game.”
“Jimmy’s in incredible condition at the minute, but obviously the body is going to be creaking a little bit.”
Anderson himself wants to maximise his gametime this season after a season of struggle last year and on media day believed his pre-season preparations have helped leave him in top condition for the upcoming campaign.
Anderson said: “Personally, as captain, I want to play as many games as I can.
“Last year, I struggled a little bit with injury but hopefully having a long winter of preparing on the fitness front that will stand me in good stead to play as many games as possible.”
Passing on his experience
During media day, Anderson was keen to emphasise the mix within the squad and how he as a leader can pass on his experience alongside more experienced members of the squad like Liam Livingstone.
He said: “I think we have a good balance in the squad of experience and youth.
“Our job as experienced players is try and help them on their way and show them what being a professional cricketer looks like.”
Anderson had mentioned the rising youth products of Rocky Flintoff and Joe Moores, both of whom are a prominent part of the current senior squad.
James Anderson highlights four Lancashire players to watch this season
Anderson said: “Obviously, we’ve got a couple of young guys in there as well.
“Rocky Flintoff and Joe Moores, who are starting out their journey in the professional game.
“Both 17 years old with bags of potential, so excited to see if they get chances at some point this summer.”
Can the good form continue?
Lancashire head to Durham on Friday (April 24th) as they look to continue their bright start to the campaign, which has only seen them play one singular game at their home ground of Emirates Old Trafford.
That was a 29-run win over Derbyshire, sandwiched in between the opening draw at Northamptonshire and last weekend’s victory at Gloucestershire.
Should Anderson feature, will he be able to continue his fine form in the early weeks of the campaign?
Will Lancashire being able to banish last season’s demons and return to the Division 1 for 2027?
(Featured Image by NAPARAZZI, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
