Jimmy Anderson, the legendary English cricketer, has entered his name into this season’s Hundred draft, signaling his intention to continue his career in domestic cricket. At 42, Anderson made a memorable exit from international cricket after an emotional farewell at Lord’s last summer. Despite stepping away from the international stage, Anderson is determined to keep playing and has confirmed his participation for Lancashire in the County Championship this season. Additionally, he participated in the recent Indian Premier League auction, though he wasn’t selected, showcasing his willingness to embrace new challenges, despite his age and his last competitive T20 match having taken place over a decade ago.
Now, Anderson is setting his sights on the Hundred, a competition in which he has previously only been involved as a pundit. This marks a significant step for the fast bowler, who will be 43 by the time the competition begins. The draft will take place next Wednesday, where the eight teams will make decisions on the players they wish to sign for the upcoming season. There are 37 spots available on the men’s side and 29 spots on the women’s side, and each team must weigh the benefits of bringing in a cricketing icon like Anderson, against the need for younger talent with more recent short-form experience.
Anderson’s interest in the Hundred format was piqued after watching the competition unfold last year. He admitted that seeing the ball swing around on the shorter format pitches made him feel like he could still make an impact in the tournament. He has expressed a genuine intrigue for the shorter formats of the game, having not participated in franchise cricket before. Although he is most closely associated with Lancashire, the county he represents, Anderson has kept his options open. In the past, he was linked to Manchester Originals, a team he was informally affiliated with during the competition’s early days, but that connection never materialized in a formal playing role. However, the Originals now have five spots available in their squad, ranging in value from £63,000 to £200,000, and there may be room for a senior pace bowler like Anderson.
The 2025 draft is highly anticipated, not just because of Anderson’s involvement but also due to the presence of a host of other prominent England players who are available for selection. Among these players are Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Rehan Ahmed, Zak Crawley, and Dan Lawrence. With a strong pool of established stars, teams must decide how to balance their squads, considering the mix of experience and youth. In addition to these high-profile players, rising stars like Rocky Flintoff, Archie Vaughan, and Ben McKinney could draw attention from teams looking to invest in future talent.
For those who are not selected during the draft, there remains another opportunity later in the season, as unsuccessful players may be signed as wildcards. This ensures that players still have a chance to feature in the competition, even if they miss out initially. The wildcard system also adds an extra layer of intrigue to the draft, allowing teams to assess players’ form during the early stages of the season before making their final decision.
As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on the decisions made by the eight teams. For Anderson, the Hundred offers a fresh and exciting challenge, and his involvement would undoubtedly raise the profile of the competition. Whether his experience and iconic status can still shine in the shorter formats will be a story to follow as the season unfolds.
