Former England seamer James Anderson’s long stint with Lancashire ended last week after the team refused to offer him a new contract. The pacer, who had been playing for the team since the start of his career, picked up 443 county wickets to go along with 83 List A wickets and 50 T20 scalps.

Legendary English fast bowler Stuart Broad slammed the team for their ‘disrespectful’ way of handling his former teammate. “It is a pretty disrespectful way for Lancashire to deliver the news to him,” Broad said.

The statement came after the team revealed their intention of parting ways with Anderson.

“We have to give a legend a better send-off than that, and it shows a lack of leadership in that club, a lack of doing it the right way,” Broad added.

This season, the seamer played 11 games and picked up 50 wickets with one fifer and was ranked seventh in the leading wicket-takers list in Division Two.

“I feel for Jimmy because his Test career ended because of Rob Key and Brendon McCullum. It would have been shocking to Jimmy for sure, and it was done poorly. It just doesn’t sit that comfortably for me, and I think he deserves more,” Broad concluded.

What did Lancashire say?

Paul Farbrace, who is set to take over as Director of Cricket for Lancashire, was quoted as saying in the statement, “Jimmy is without doubt the greatest bowler Lancashire and England have produced. He has been a fantastic competitor throughout his career, with exceptional skill and an unwavering commitment to setting the highest standards in every dressing room he has been part of.

“Following a meeting with Jimmy and Richard Kenyon at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday 19 October, I spoke to Jimmy about our ambitions to rebuild our men’s squad that is capable of securing promotion from Division Two of the County Championship and then challenging to win Division One over the next three to four years.

“We are keen to begin that rebuild now, both in terms of the playing squad and the wider professional cricket set-up, and to make important progress over the coming months. As part of those plans, I informed Jimmy that we had taken the incredibly difficult decision not to extend his playing contract for the 2027 season. I want to thank Jimmy for everything he has given to Lancashire Cricket over the course of his career. His contribution to the Club has been immense, both on and off the field, and he leaves a lasting legacy. We have enormous respect for what he has achieved, and we will always be proud that he has represented Lancashire for so many years.”