James Anderson says he hated every minute of The Hundred stint

London: England great James Anderson has said he did not enjoy his short spell in The Hundred last year and expects to be away on holiday when the tournament is played this season.

The 43-year-old former fast bowler, who retired from international cricket in 2024, was picked by Manchester Originals as a wildcard selection for the 2025 edition of the 100-ball competition. He featured in three matches and claimed two wickets.

Anderson was not included in the auction for the 2026 season, choosing instead to concentrate on county cricket with Lancashire, where he is set to captain the side this year.

Explaining why he would not be returning to The Hundred, Anderson told the Independent in an interview published on Wednesday, "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 said his priority was to remain in the best possible condition for red-ball cricket.

I think it's really important that I focus on being as fit as I can be for the four-day stuff.

When The Hundred's on I'm hopefully going to be on holiday somewhere.

Anderson finished his England Test career with 704 wickets in 188 matches, making him the country's leading wicket-taker in the format.

Focus on Lancashire captaincy

Anderson also said he is determined to help Lancashire return to Division One. The county side is currently in the second tier, and he indicated that promotion could influence how long he continues playing, even as he weighs his age and physical condition.

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.

Would I want to be involved in that? And of course I would.

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.

His appointment as Lancashire's four-day captain places him in a notable line of leaders at the club, following figures including Clive Lloyd, David Lloyd, Brian Statham and Wasim Akram.

Speaking about the role, Anderson said, "A huge honour, It's such a prestigious club, with a lot of history, so to be a captain of the four-day side is a very proud thing for me."

Anderson brings extensive experience to the position, having played 188 Tests for England and worked under every national captain from Nasser Hussain to Ben Stokes.

The Hundred is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, while the County Championship begins on Friday.