James Anderson says Lancashire exit made him question himself: ‘Is there something wrong with me?’

James Anderson is considering his playing future after revealing that his departure from Lancashire left him wondering if there is “something fundamentally wrong with me as a person”.

Lancashire finished second bottom in the County Championship last season under Anderson’s captaincy, although the fast bowler still took an impressive 50 wickets across 11 matches at an average of 17.68.

However, England’s record wicket-taker was informed during a meeting last Monday by incoming director of cricket Paul Farbrace and new chief executive Richard Kenyon that his contract would not be renewed for 2027.

The decision from Lancashire closely mirrors the end of his England career two years ago, when he was told by director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes that he was surplus to requirements.

“It feels very similar,” the 44-year-old said on his Tailenders podcast. “Last year didn’t go too well for us and all through the season, myself and the head coach were saying ‘is it something we’re doing?’.

“I finished the season thinking ‘was it something I did? Was I doing something wrong?’. And then I get told this news and now I’m thinking it even more.

“I’m thinking ‘this is happening again, is there something fundamentally wrong with me as a person?’. Your head just races and I didn’t know what to make of it for a good week. You’re thinking ‘I’m never going to play cricket again’.”

When asked if he intends to extend his remarkable career, Anderson, who turns 45 next July, replied: “I’m still trying to process everything and weigh up what the best way forward for me is, really.”

The handling of Anderson by the Lancashire hierarchy has proved divisive among club members, while Stuart Broad, his long-time England opening bowling partner, described the club’s decision as “disrespectful”.

Anderson spent over a quarter of a century at Lancashire, taking 443 first-class wickets alongside 83 in List A games and 50 in T20s.

“It’s been 10 days since it happened,” he added. “I am starting to get excited about the future and whether it is something different, whether it is playing cricket again, there’s exciting challenges ahead.

“I’ve got to attack it like that and not dwell too much on how or why it finished at Lancs. I am sad the way it ended with the club I supported as a kid.

“I was born there, grew up watching them, had some of my most memorable days out with dad watching them, got to play for them and captain the club, which is something most people dream about.

“I feel like I have a special connection with the club and will always support them.”