James Anderson Makes Historic Entry into The Hundred T20 Competition
Anderson's Debut in The Hundred
James Anderson, the veteran fast bowler, is set to make his debut in England's premier T20 tournament, The Hundred. He was picked by Manchester Originals during the wildcard draft held on July 15.
At the age of 42, Anderson will become the second-oldest player to participate in The Hundred, which is scheduled from August 5 to August 31. He will be joining a skilled lineup that features players like Jos Buttler, Josh Tongue, Heinrich Klaasen, Noor Ahmad, and Rachin Ravindra.
Return to T20 Cricket
This marks Anderson's return to T20 cricket after an 11-year break. Earlier this year, he played eight matches for Lancashire in the T20 Blast, where he took 14 wickets with an impressive economy rate of less than 7.75 runs per over. Since retiring from international cricket last year, he has been exploring opportunities in various T20 leagues, including the Indian Premier League.
Anderson has played 52 T20 matches overall, claiming 55 wickets. He represented England in 19 T20 Internationals from 2007 to 2009, securing 18 wickets. His strong performance continued in the County Championship, where he took 11 wickets in three matches for Lancashire.
Anderson's Legacy
As a legendary fast bowler, Anderson retired as England's all-time leading wicket-taker, with a remarkable tally of 704 wickets in 188 Test matches and 269 wickets in 194 One Day Internationals.
Social Media Buzz
Following Anderson's selection by Manchester Originals, social media erupted with reactions. While many expressed support, others humorously noted his age as he continues to play the shortest format of the game. Here are some notable reactions:
Oooo the traditionalists aren’t going to like this, I hope the viewing figures rocket just off this alone 🎣 — D Naylor (@R3DLFC) July 15, 2025
Manchester Originals have signed a promising young seamer called James Anderson in the Hundred wildcard draft this morning. More to follow @ESPNcricinfo — Matt Roller (@mroller98) July 15, 2025
Exciting news for cricket fans as James Anderson joins Manchester Originals for the Hundred competition! 🏏🔥#TheHundred — AIMEME (@AI69ME) July 15, 2025
Age doesn't matter. Look at James Anderson's fitness. — Ramdeep Mishra (@ramdeepmishra11) July 15, 2025
🚨- James Anderson will play T20 league “The Hundred”. He is unstoppable, unimaginable fitness being a fast bowler how can you be so fit even at this age! He broke the myth, you dream you achieve: Life is full of challenges, just dream and challenge! James you are an… — No-Malarkey🇮🇳 (@I_amSahil) July 15, 2025
Indian fans cry about Dhoni playing in the IPL at age 43, while England fans have no issues with James Anderson playing in leagues and county cricket at age 42. — Saurabh 🏏 (@MR_CricAnalyst) July 15, 2025
42 and still steaming in — James Anderson isn’t just defying age, he’s redefining it. 🔥🤯 From Test whites to The Hundred, the legend refuses to fade. Manchester Originals just got a whole lot classier. 💪🎯 — Ankur Pandey (@ankurpandeyIND) July 15, 2025
Manchester Originals Squad
The current squad for Manchester Originals includes:
- Jos Buttler
- Noor Ahmad
- Phil Salt
- James Anderson
- Rachin Ravindra
- Lewis Gregory
- Ben McKinney
- Heinrich Klaasen
- George Garton
- Matty Hurst
- Josh Tongue
- Scott Currie
- Tom Hartley
- Sonny Baker
- Tom Aspinwall
Understanding the Wildcard Draft
The wildcard draft for The Hundred allows teams to select additional players to enhance their squads. This process provides a chance for players who were not initially selected to join the competition based on their performances in the English domestic cricket season.