‘Give greats of the game a better send-off than that’: Stuart Broad says Lancashire treated James Anderson with disrespect

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has launched a scathing attack on Lancashire following their decision to part ways with James Anderson, calling the county club's treatment of his former bowling partner "disrespectful."

Lancashire confirmed on Sunday that they would not be offering a new contract to the 44-year-old pacer. The move comes despite Anderson concluding an exceptional season where he claimed 50 County Championship wickets at an average of 17, earning him Lancashire's Player of the Year award.

Acknowledging the club's choice, Anderson revealed that the decision to end his long-standing association was taken out of his hands, stating:

"If it was up to me it wouldn't have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future," he said.

Broad, who partnered Anderson for years in one of Test cricket’s most dominant seam attacks, expressed sharp criticism of how Lancashire managed the exit. Speaking on the For The Love of Cricket podcast, Broad condemned the execution of the release:

"I think it's a pretty disrespectful way for Lancashire to deliver that news to him," Broad told the For The Love of Cricket podcast.

"I think you give your icons or greats of the game a better sign-off, a better send-off than that, and it shows a lack of leadership at that club, a lack of doing it in the right way."

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Anderson called time on his illustrious Test career in 2024, finishing with 704 wickets—the highest tally by any pace bowler in history. Overall, he stands third on the all-time Test wicket-takers list, trailing only legendary spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708).

Broad noted that the circumstances surrounding Anderson's departure from Lancashire strongly mirrored his abrupt retirement from the national side under England director of cricket Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum.

"I feel for Jimmy because the Test career sort of got ended by (director of cricket) Rob Key and (former coach) Brendon McCullum before -- a bit of a shock to Jimmy for sure, and done in a pretty poor way," Broad said.

"This, again, it just doesn't sit that comfortably for me and I think he deserves more." (AFP)