Kolkata : English legend James Anderson at 44 has joined new county side – Surrey for 2027 County Championship.
His former club Lancashire released him last month after Anderson served them for 25 years, as the club wanted to rebuild” after finishing seventh in Division Two, the worst placing in their Championship history.
Anderson considered retirement in the wake of the snub, but – having taken 50 wickets last season to be named as Lancashire’s Championship player of the year – he has chosen a move to The Oval. There, he will link up with Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, alongside whom he made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2003.
“It’s an honour to join a club like Surrey and I can’t wait to start a new chapter in my career,” Anderson said. “Surrey have a great squad and are a team that expects to be fighting for Championship titles and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
“It was a great phone call to get,” he added. “I’ve known Stewie a long time and always got on well with him. So for him to show an interest and want me to come here was great. I felt really proud that that was the case. And after a few weeks of talking to him and mulling it over, I’m just really excited that I’ve got the opportunity to come here.”
Surrey themselves are in need of reinvigoration, having flirted with relegation from Division One after three titles and a second-placed finish in their previous four campaigns. Their head coach, Gareth Batty, recently left the club to join Chennai Super Kings, and Anderson believes his huge experience will have a key role to play.
“I still feel like I have a lot to offer, taking wickets, trying to help the team win games of cricket,” he said. “I also think that I can bring a lot to the team off the field and help those young players who are looking to develop their skillset and go on and represent their country.”
On his ambitions for 2027, Anderson said that “winning trophies” was his prime motivation, but he was also looking forward to the chance to play Division One cricket again, after Lancashire’s struggles in recent campaigns.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to try and win the Championship, being the first division,” he said. “I’ve got to show that I’ve still got the quality and the ability to try and break into this team or help out where I can, [but] that’s just something that I’m absolutely relishing next season.”
Anderson played 16 of his England-record 188 Tests at The Oval, claiming 50 wickets at 33.18. Against India in 2018, he dismissed Mohammad Shami at the venue to overhaul Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 wickets to become the most prolific seamer in Test history, and by the time he played his final Test, at Lord’s in 2024, he had claimed 704, third in the all-time stakes behind Muthiah Muralidharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). He also claimed an ODI hat-trick at the venue, against Pakistan in his breakthrough season in 2003.
“I’ve always loved playing at the Kia Oval,” Anderson added. “For me it’s one of the best grounds in the world. It’s a place that I have some incredibly special memories at and I hope to create some more next season.”
Stewart added: “We’re delighted to bring someone of the calibre of Sir James Anderson to Surrey. Jimmy brings quality with the ball. His 50 championship wickets last season prove that he is still one of the best bowlers in the country.
“Jimmy also brings a wealth of experience to the group that all our bowlers will learn from. Much of our squad have international aspirations, and they will learn a great deal from training, playing and being in the same dressing room with Jimmy.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming him to the group and watching him perform in front of our members and supporters at the Kia Oval.”
