Veteran fast bowler James Anderson, aged 42, has signed up for the upcoming Hundred draft, seeking his debut in the cricket competition. This move comes after he extended his contract with Lancashire for another year.
Anderson, who last played professional cricket in a Test match against the West Indies in July, has since served as a consultant coach for England. Despite his recent focus on coaching, he inked a one-year deal with Lancashire in January for the 2025 season and is now aiming to participate in the Hundred tournament for the first time.
It has been almost six years since Anderson played limited-overs cricket, with his last T20 appearance over a decade ago. He is hoping to play in the T20 Blast for Lancashire this year. Having entered the Hundred draft without a reserve price, Anderson could still participate as a wildcard pick or an injury replacement if not initially selected.
Reflecting on the previous season of the Hundred, Anderson noted the significant swing and seam movement of the ball, which made him feel he could be effective in the format. Interestingly, he also registered for the IPL auction in December but remained unsold.
Anderson will turn 43 shortly before the Hundred begins on August 5. If he plays, he would be the second-oldest participant in the tournament’s history, following Imran Tahir in 2022. Other players in their 40s, such as Michael Hogan and Wayne Madsen, have also played in the Hundred previously, and Faf du Plessis, at 41, is set to play this season.
Over 300 international male players have registered for the draft, vying for just 10 available spots across the Hundred teams. Many international players face availability issues due to scheduling conflicts with bilateral series, and the Caribbean Premier League will overlap with the Hundred, preventing most West Indies players from participating.
Notable Australian players like Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, and Josh Inglis have registered for the draft, despite a potential clash with a white-ball series against South Africa in August. David Warner, who has retired from international cricket, has also entered the draft. New Zealand players, including Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, and Rachin Ravindra, are expected to be largely available for the Hundred.
Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad has entered the draft with a reserve price of £200,000, the highest possible salary in the Hundred. He is anticipated to join Manchester Originals, having previously played for their co-owners’ SA20 team. London Spirit holds the first pick in the draft and is reportedly interested in signing Jamie Overton.
Domestic players such as Jason Roy and Dawid Malan have also entered the draft with reserve prices and might consider playing overseas if not picked. Mark Wood, yet to play in the Hundred, has a £200,000 reserve price and is likely to participate only as a replacement.
Other England internationals expected to draw interest include Rehan Ahmed, Zak Crawley, George Garton, Lewis Gregory, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Reece Topley, David Willey, and Luke Wood. Several young England Under-19 players are also on the longlist.
The ECB has confirmed Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes as the central contract players for London Spirit and Welsh Fire, respectively, for this year. Both have previously played for Birmingham Phoenix.
