England legend James Anderson has said he will stay away from The Hundred this year. He made it clear that he did not enjoy his short time in the tournament last season.
The 43-year-old retired from international cricket in 2024. He played in The Hundred in 2025 after a wildcard pick by Manchester Originals. He took only two wickets in three matches.
Anderson chose not to enter the 2026 auction. He will focus on county cricket with Lancashire County Cricket Club. He will also lead the side this season.
Speaking to The Independent, Anderson said, “It was a mixture of hating every minute of The Hundred last year, if I can say that, and especially being (Lancashire) captain this year.”
He wants to stay fit for longer format cricket. He said, “I think it’s really important that I focus on being as fit as I can be for the four-day stuff.”
He also plans to take a break during the tournament window. “When The Hundred’s on I’m hopefully going to be on holiday somewhere,” he added.
Anderson still has big goals with Lancashire. He wants to help the team return to Division One. He also hinted that he could continue playing if they go up.
“I think there are times throughout the winter where I maybe thought about what if we get promoted and we’ve got a chance to push for the championship next year,” he said.
“Would I want to be involved in that? And of course I would.”
He also spoke about the physical side of the game. “And then there are other times when I wake up, and I struggle to walk to the toilet in the morning and think maybe I can’t get another year out of my body.”
Anderson remains England’s top Test wicket taker with 704 wickets in 188 matches.
The Hundred will run from July 21 to August 16. The County Championship starts this Friday.
