James Anderson to resume playing career in Italy after Lancashire exit

James Anderson will captain and co-own Napoli Knights alongside Luke Sutton in the inaugural Italia T10 League. The move extends his playing career after leaving Lancashire and supports cricket's growth in Italy.Lancashire didn't renew James Anderson's contract. Courtesy: ReutersNew Delhi,Oct 28, 2026 18:51 ISTEngland cricket great James Anderson is set to continue his playing career in Italy after being named co-owner and captain of Napoli Knights, one of six teams in the inaugural Italia T10 League. The move comes days after the 44-year-old's 25-year association with Lancashire came to an end, leaving questions over his future in professional cricket.Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, will team up with former Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton to lead the Naples-based franchise. The competition, which begins on November 18, offers the veteran fast bowler an opportunity to remain involved in the game while helping develop cricket in a country where the sport is still growing."Cricket has given me so much throughout my career, and the opportunity to be involved in the game in a completely different way is something I'm really excited about," Anderson said."Luke and I have a close history, so to be taking on this new challenge together is particularly special. The Italia T10 is an exciting concept, and there's a huge opportunity to help raise the profile of cricket in Italy while bringing together some fantastic players and creating an entertaining tournament." WHAT WILL BE JAMES ANDERSON'S ROLE?Anderson will captain and co-own the Napoli Knights, with the franchise operating under Activate Sport & Leisure, a British talent management and sports consulting agency run by Sutton. The pair previously worked together at Lancashire between 2006 and 2010, while Sutton also managed Anderson earlier in his career.The move also adds to the English influence behind the tournament, which was founded by former county cricketer Nadeem Shahid. Anderson's involvement is expected to bring significant attention to the new competition, with several recognised international players also set to feature. "I played against Jimmy and Luke enough times to know how competitive they are, so having them as owners of the Napoli Knights is a massive statement for Italia T10," Shahid said."Three Englishmen from the county circuit now helping build cricket in Italy. It feels great to give back to the game. Welcome aboard, lads."WHAT IS ITALIA T10 LEAGUE?The Italia T10 League is a six-team, 10-over-a-side competition scheduled to run from November 18 to 29 at the Roma Cricket Ground. It aims to capitalise on the growing interest in Italian cricket after the national team qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time earlier this year.Italy made headlines at the tournament by defeating Nepal by 10 wickets in a group-stage match and narrowly losing to England. The Italia T10 will feature international names including Chris Gayle, Shaun Marsh and Dawid Malan, alongside members of the Italian national team.Sutton said the project was about building something that would last beyond the tournament itself."For Activate Sport & Leisure, this is about much more than owning a cricket franchise. We want to use our experience in sports development, together with our established relationships with schools and clubs in England, to help create a lasting legacy for cricket in Italy," he said.For Anderson, the move offers a new chapter after a quarter-century at Lancashire, allowing one of England's most celebrated bowlers to continue playing while contributing to the sport's development in a new setting.- Ends