It came after a season in which the 44-year-old took 50 County Championship wickets at an average of 17 and was named Lancashire’s player of the year. England’s record Test wicket-taker James Anderson was treated with disrespect when he was released by Lancashire, according to his former pace bowling partner Stuart Broad. Anderson indicated that the decision to part ways with the club had been taken out of his hands.
Lancashire announced on Sunday that Anderson would not have his contract renewed.
James Anderson took 50 County Championship wickets last season at an average of 17 and was named Lancashire’s player of the year.
Broad said the Lancashire controversy echoed how Anderson’s England career was ended in 2024 before he was ready to call time.
“If it was up to me it wouldn’t have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future,” he said. “I think it’s a pretty disrespectful way for Lancashire to deliver that news to him,” Broad told the For The Love of Cricket podcast. “I feel for Jimmy because the Test career sort of got ended by (director of cricket) Rob Key and (former coach) Brendon McCullum before — a bit of a shock to Jimmy for sure, and done in a pretty poor way,” Broad said.
“I think you give your icons or greats of the game a better sign-off, a better send-off than that, and it shows a lack of leadership at that club, a lack of doing it in the right way.
