James Anderson signs new deal in franchise league

One of England’s greatest ever cricketers, Sir James Anderson, has signed a new deal in the franchise league. Since retiring from the longest format last year against the West Indies at Lord’s, Anderson has tried to expose himself in the shortest format of the game and has been a steady member for the Lancashire side in the ongoing T20 Blast 2025.

Anderson will join the Manchester Originals for the Hundred 2025. The franchise selected the right-arm pacer as one of their two men’s wildcard picks ahead of the fifth season of the competition, which begins on August 05. He boasts a remarkable record across the formats in his career that spanned 25 years, with over 400 appearances and nearly 1000 wickets in international cricket.

The 42-year-old has put in his sweat in the domestic T20 event for Lancashire, having claimed 14 wickets in the first eight games of the tournament. In doing so, he has taken the tough task of bowling with the new ball inside the powerplay, besides putting in the hard yards with the old ball at the death overs.

James Anderson signs a new deal in the Hundred 2025 for the Manchester Originals

Each team selects two men’s and two women’s players’ the wildcard draft to strengthen their squad. The process gives an incredible chance for the players, who were previously unselected for the Hundred, to put themselves in contention for the outstanding form they had in the first three months of the domestic competition in England.

Anderson’s recent 20-over contest came just a couple of days ago when he faced Durham at Old Trafford and ended with figures of 1/22. In 19 T20Is for the national side, the Burnley-born picked up 18 wickets at an average of 30.66 and an economy rate of nearly eight, thanks to the best figures of 3/23 in an innings.

In the shortest format of the game, Anderson featured in 52 T20 innings and has enjoyed 55 scalps at an average of 28.05 and an economy rate of over eight. The veteran will be part of the franchise, which has already signed Noor Ahmed, Heinrich Klassen, and Rachin Ravindra as their overseas campaigners. Josh Tongue, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Tom Hartley will also be part of the squad for the season.