Sir James Anderson appointed as Lancashire’s Championship captain

Lancashire have confirmed a leadership change ahead of the 2026 County Championship season, appointing Sir James Anderson as the full-time captain of their red-ball team. The legendary seamer’s long-standing association with the Red Rose now extends to taking up the leadership responsibility even after retiring from international cricket in 2024. Entering his 44th year, Anderson will be looking to guide Lancashire back to Division One.

The appointment comes after a tough 2025 season for Lancashire, where an underwhelming Championship campaign led to substantial changes within the club structure. Keaton Jennings stepped down from the four-day captaincy in May, while head coach Dale Benkenstein also parted ways with the team following the disappointing performances. Steven Croft, a Lancashire stalwart who retired in 2024, was brought in as the new head coach and has now placed his trust in his long-time teammate Anderson to lead the team.

Lancashire to face Northamptonshire on April 3

The veteran had already served as interim captain on two occasions during the 2025 season. Anderson’s appointment comes even after retiring from Test cricket with a record 704 wickets for England. Despite stepping away from international cricket, Anderson remained a crucial part of Lancashire’s plans, bagging 17 wickets at an average of 25.94 in the 2025 Championship season and contributing in the Vitality Blast, where he claimed 20 wickets at 16.10.

Having signed a new one-year contract in November, Anderson is now determined to spearhead Lancashire’s 2026 red-ball campaign. Notably, he has claimed 1,143 first-class wickets in 304 matches and more than 300 career First-Class appearances. Anderson emphasised his pride in leading the team, stating the strong mix within the squad and stressing that promotion to Division One remains the top priority.

“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 I’m excited about what we can achieve together with promotion back to Division One our number one priority,” Anderson said.

Meanwhile, Josh Bohannon will continue as vice-captain, and Keaton Jennings retains his captaincy for the Vitality Blast. The management believes that the Anderson-Bohannon leadership duo brings balance as Lancashire prepares for the season opener against Northamptonshire on April 3.