Anderson Set to Captain Lancashire in Upcoming Matches

Lancashire County Cricket Club has announced that veteran England bowler James Anderson will take on the captaincy for their next two County Championship matches. This decision comes as Marcus Harris is set to return to Australia for the anticipated arrival of his child.

The 42-year-old Anderson is scheduled to lead Lancashire in the match against Kent in Blackpool, commencing on Sunday. This will mark the first instance of him captaining a professional team throughout his illustrious career.

Anderson’s appearances have been limited to a single championship match this season due to a calf injury that kept him off the field for six weeks. However, he made a strong impression in the Vitality Blast, securing ten wickets across four games, marking his return to T20 cricket after a decade-long absence.

Anderson’s appointment makes him Lancashire’s third captain in red-ball cricket this season. Harris had previously succeeded Keaton Jennings, who was replaced after a period of poor performance. This period also saw the departure of head coach Dale Benkenstein.

Lancashire aims to rejuvenate its red-ball campaign under Anderson’s leadership. The team is currently positioned second from the bottom in Division Two, with a record of five draws and two losses in seven games.

In contrast, their performance in the Vitality Blast has been more promising, with four wins out of six games, placing them third in the North Group.

Following the Vitality Blast fixtures, the competition will be temporarily suspended for two championship rounds. Lancashire will first play against Kent at home and then travel to Chesterfield to compete against Derbyshire.

Besides Anderson’s captaincy, the team will also benefit from the availability of Australian players Ashton Turner and Chris Green.

Lancashire’s interim head coach, Steven Croft, conveyed his anticipation that Lancashire will perform well under Anderson’s leadership.

“Jimmy will lead the side, which is exciting for both him and the team,” Croft stated.

“He has only captained once before, during a pre-season T20 game in Dubai. This will be a moment of immense pride for him. He brings a wealth of experience both on and off the field, and his leadership is a significant advantage for the team.”
Croft remains optimistic about the team’s chances despite the difficult start to the season.

“I view this as a turning point in our season, and that’s what I’ll convey to the team. We can’t undo the past seven games, but we have seven more to advance up the ranks,” he commented.

“A few wins could quickly put us back at the top. This break in the Blast provides an opportunity to refocus and move forward in the right direction.”