James Anderson is all set to make a comeback to competitive cricket since last taking the field in his farewell Test against West Indies back in July 2024 at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The 42-year-old speedster has been named in the Lancashire squad for their upcoming County Championship Division 2 match against Derbyshire to start on Friday, May 16 at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.

After bidding goodbye to international cricket, Anderson also worked as the bowling consultant for the England men’s team. Last year, he joined Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in the elite list of bowlers with 700 or more Test wickets.

In 188 Tests since his debut in 2023, Anderson has taken 704 wickets at an economy rate of 2.79 with 32 four-wicket hauls, 32 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls. Anderson also holds the record for most wickets at a single venue by a fast bowler in Tests. In 29 Tests at Lord’s, Anderson picked up 123 wickets at an economy rate of 2.71.

Anderson couldn’t play in the first five county matches for Lancashire due to a calf injury. The match against Derbyshire will also be Marcus Harris’ first as Lancashire’s interim captain. Earlier, Keaton Jennings stepped down following the 70-run defeat to Northamptonshire at the County Ground in Northampton.

Following the defeat, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, called the team’s form “unacceptable” and said the club would “make the necessary changes” to address the situation.

Lancashire have had a disastrous campaign thus far as they are languishing at the bottom of the table with 50 points, having not yet won a single game.

Lancashire squad

Marcus Harris (c), James Anderson, Tom Bailey, George Balderson, George Bell, Josh Bohannon, Tom Hartley, Matty Hurst, Keaton Jennings, Michael Jones, Anderson Phillip, Ollie Sutton, Luke Wells, Will Williams