James Anderson is eager to return to white-ball cricket and has entered his name for the upcoming Hundred draft, set to take place on March 12, according to ESPNCricinfo.
The veteran pacer, who has not played professionally since his final Test against West Indies in July 2023, is looking to make his first-ever appearance in the Hundred. Despite his coaching commitments with England, including at the Champions Trophy, Anderson has signed a contract with Lancashire for the 2025 season and is keen to play in the T20 Blast this year.
If picked by a side, Anderson would become the second-oldest player in the tournament’s history at 43, following Imran Tahir’s stint in 2022. The Hundred has previously featured players in their 40s, including Michael Hogan and Wayne Madsen, while Faf du Plessis is set to play this season, aged 41.
Anderson, who last played a T20 over a decade ago and has yet to play a white-ball game in nearly six years, registered for the IPL auction in December 2024 but went unsold. Last year, he had hinted at playing in the Hundred: “Watching the Hundred this year, seeing the ball swing around, it makes me feel like I could do a job there.”
More than 300 overseas male cricketers have put their names forward for the draft, but only 10 spots remain across the men’s teams, with 14 players already retained or directly recruited. The availability of several international stars remains uncertain due to clashes with bilateral series, while the Caribbean Premier League running concurrently will likely rule out most West Indies players.
What is Anderson's T20 record?
Interestingly, Anderson has not set a reserve price for the draft, meaning he could still feature in the Hundred as a wildcard or an injury replacement if he is not picked.
Anderson has played 44 T20s in his career, picking up 41 wickets at an average of 32.14. He had best figures of 3-23 and conceded runs at 8.47 an over.
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