James Anderson continues his playing career in Italy after leaving Lancashire

England cricket great James Anderson will 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 A 25-year association with Lancashire has endedleaving questions about his future in professional cricket.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading goalkeeper, will team up with former Lancashire goalkeeper Luke Sutton to lead the Naples-based franchise. The competition, which starts on November 18, offers the veteran fast bowler an opportunity to stay involved in the game while helping to develop cricket in a country where the sport is still growing.

“Cricket has given me so much throughout my career and to be able 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 taking on this new challenge together is particularly special. The Italia T10 is an exciting concept and there is a huge opportunity to help raise the profile of cricket in Italy while bringing together some fantastic players to create an entertaining tournament.”

WHAT WILL JAMES ANDERSON’S ROLE BE?

Anderson will captain and co-own the Napoli Knights, with the franchise operating under Activate Sport & Leisure, a UK talent management and sports consultancy 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 in the new competition is expected to bring significant attention and will also feature several established international players.

“I’ve played against Jimmy and Luke enough times to know how competitive they are, so to have them as owners of the Napoli Knights is a massive statement for Italia T10,” said Shahid.

“Three Englishmen from the county are now helping to build cricket in Italy. It’s great to be back in the game. Welcome aboard boys.”

WHAT IS THE ITALIA T10 LIAGUE?

The Italia T10 League is a six-team, 10-over-a-side competition that will be held from November 18 to 29 at the Roma Cricket Ground. It aims to capitalize 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 grabbed the headlines of the tournament by beating Nepal by 10 wickets in a group stage match before 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.

“Activate Sport & Leisure 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 of a century in Lancashire, allowing one of England’s most celebrated bowlers to continue playing while contributing to the development of the sport in a new environment.

– The end