Sir James Anderson Named Lancashire Captain for the 2026 Season

Lancashire County Cricket Club has confirmed a major leadership change ahead of the 2026 County Championship season, appointing Sir James Anderson as the full-time captain of their red-ball squad. The legendary English seamer, who retired from international cricket in 2024, will now lead the Red Rose team in his 44th year. So let’s know about Sir James Anderson Lancashire captain.

Anderson Steps Up After Lancashire’s Tough 2025 Season

Lancashire endured a challenging Championship campaign in 2025, prompting structural changes within the club. Former captain Keaton Jennings stepped down from four-day leadership duties in May, while head coach Dale Benkenstein also parted ways with the team.

Steven Croft, a retired Lancashire stalwart, took over as head coach and entrusted his long-time teammate Anderson with the captaincy. Anderson had already served as interim captain twice during the 2025 season, proving his leadership capabilities.

Anderson’s Stellar Career and Recent Form

Even after retiring from Test cricket, Anderson remained a key figure for Lancashire. His performances in 2025 included:

  • 17 wickets at an average of 25.94 in the County Championship

  • 20 wickets at 16.10 in the Vitality Blast

Over his illustrious first-class career, Anderson has:

  • Taken 1,143 wickets in 304 matches

  • Made over 300 first-class appearances

His experience and consistency make him ideally suited to lead the side back to Division One.

Leading Lancashire Into 2026

Having signed a new one-year contract in November, Anderson expressed his excitement and pride at being appointed full-time captain:

“Captaining Lancashire for the first time last season was a huge privilege, and I’m honoured to take on the role full-time heading into the new season. We’ve got a fantastic group of players, a great blend of youth and experience, and promotion back to Division One is our number one priority.”

Josh Bohannon will continue as vice-captain, while Keaton Jennings retains his leadership role for the Vitality Blast. Lancashire will begin their 2026 Championship campaign against Northamptonshire on April 3.

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Aiming for Division One Promotion

The management believes that the Anderson-Bohannon leadership combination brings the right balance of experience and youthful energy. With a strong squad in place and a proven leader at the helm, Lancashire is optimistic about returning to Division One in 2026.

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