Lancashire County Cricket Club’s head coach, Steven Croft, is deliberating on whether veteran pacer and captain James Anderson will play in the upcoming County Championship match against Durham County Cricket Club. Anderson, aged 43, retired from international cricket in July 2024 but has been pivotal to Lancashire’s successful start this season, leading with both his bowling and captaincy skills. He currently holds the top spot in Division Two, with two wins and a draw from three matches, and is the leading wicket-taker in county cricket with 21 wickets at an average of 12.09.
With Anderson having bowled close to 100 overs in three matches over just two weeks, the team management is cautious about his workload going forward. Croft mentioned on BBC Radio Lancashire that while Anderson is in great shape, his body might be feeling the strain. Anderson’s remarkable performances include a five-wicket haul against Northamptonshire, a crucial 4-18 spell against Derbyshire, and three quick wickets against Gloucestershire in the last match.
Lancashire’s top position in the table, narrowly ahead of Durham, sets the stage for a significant match at the Riverside. Considering a break after the game, the team faces a crucial decision on whether to field Anderson for a fourth consecutive match. Croft emphasized the need to assess Anderson’s fitness in the coming days, given his exceptional contributions throughout the season.
In other news, Lancashire will be missing opener Luke Wells due to a dislocated shoulder and fast bowler Ajeet Singh Dale, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, both sustained during the previous match in Bristol.
