James Anderson's Surprising New Role After Lancashire Exit

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-28

James Anderson has a new job. And it's not bowling for another county. The 44-year-old England great has joined the ownership group of Napoli Knights, a franchise in the new Italia T10 League. The move comes just days after Lancashire told him they wouldn't offer a contract for next season. So instead of fighting for another playing deal, Anderson is stepping into the boardroom. ### Anderson and Luke Sutton Take Charge of Napoli Knights The Italia T10 League runs from November 18 to 29 in Rome. It was founded by Apex T10 Limited, a company owned by former Essex and Surrey batter Nadeem Shahid. On Tuesday, the league confirmed that Activate Sport and Leisure, a British talent management agency, will operate the Napoli Knights franchise. Luke Sutton, who runs Activate, is co-owner alongside Anderson. Sutton is a former Lancashire wicketkeeper and managed Anderson for several years early in his career. When asked, Sutton didn't confirm whether Anderson put in his own money or received a stake for his work—often called sweat equity. In a press release, Anderson said cricket has given him a great deal and he's excited to be involved in a different capacity. He wants Napoli Knights to compete for the title while helping grow the sport in Italy long-term. Sutton called it an opportunity to help an emerging cricket nation. ### Lancashire Decision Leaves Anderson's Playing Future Open Paul Farbrace, Lancashire's new director of cricket, told Anderson last week that the club didn't plan to offer him a new deal. Anderson responded on Instagram on Sunday, saying the ending would have been different if the decision had been his. He wished the players and fans well. Anderson hasn't said whether he'll look for a contract with another county in 2027. His media work has expanded over the past few years. He's a regular pundit for the BBC, features on the Tailenders podcast, and did a brief coaching stint with England after retiring from international cricket two years ago. Former England teammate Stuart Broad criticized Lancashire's handling of the situation on his podcast, For the Love of Cricket. Broad said the club didn't treat Anderson with the respect a player of his standing deserves and called it a failure of leadership. > "Cricket has given me a great deal, and I'm excited to be involved in the game in a different capacity." – James Anderson ### Anderson's Limited Record in Franchise Cricket The new role stands out because Anderson has played very little short-form cricket. He appeared in three matches for Manchester Originals in the Hundred last year and later said he hated every minute of it. So owning a T10 team is a big shift. ### Italia T10 League Draws Investors From Several Countries Other backers have joined the competition. The owners of Pakistan Super League side Quetta Gladiators bought the Rome franchise, and investors from India and Pakistan are also involved. The league aims to deliver entertaining cricket, showcase talent, and engage audiences in Italy and abroad. Italy's growing profile in the sport helped the league's pitch. The men's national team qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time this year and beat Nepal by 10 wickets in a group game. The squad relies heavily on foreign-born players with Italian heritage, and Derbyshire's Wayne Madsen and Australian allrounder Harry Manenti have captained it. Napoli Knights begin their campaign when the tournament opens in Rome next month. For Anderson, it's a chance to stay in the game—just not on the field.