Jimmy Anderson Buys Italian Cricket Team Weeks After Lancashire Exit
England cricket legend Jimmy Anderson has joined the Italia T10 competition as co-owner of the Napoli Knights, just days after his departure from Lancashire was confirmed.
Jimmy Anderson is embarking on a new venture in Italian cricket as the co-owner of the Napoli Knights, a team set to compete in the Italia T10 competition kicking off next month. This announcement comes less than a week after Lancashire confirmed they would not be renewing his contract for the 2027 season, a decision that reportedly drew criticism from club members.
Anderson and former county teammate Luke Sutton are partnering for this new Italian franchise league. Italy recently participated in the T20 World Cup, and Anderson expressed enthusiasm for the potential to elevate cricket's profile in the country.
"There’s a huge opportunity to help raise the profile of cricket in Italy," Anderson stated. "Of course, we want Napoli Knights to be competitive and challenge for the title, but we also want to contribute to something that continues to grow well beyond the tournament itself. I can’t wait to get involved."
The Italia T10 competition will feature teams from Bologna, Florence, Milan, Naples, Rome, and Venice, with all matches scheduled to take place in Rome over a 12-day period starting November 18. Nadeem Shahid, the competition's founder, highlighted the significance of Anderson and Sutton's involvement, calling it a "massive statement for Italia T10."
The news follows a meeting at Old Trafford where Lancashire's incoming director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, addressed club members regarding the decision to part ways with Anderson. Farbrace took responsibility for the decision, explaining his focus on building a team capable of winning the county championship within the next four years. The club is reportedly exploring the possibility of arranging a farewell event for Anderson to allow fans a chance to say goodbye.
In other cricket news, South Africa was dismissed for 329 by Australia on the opening day of the third Test in Cape Town. After a strong start by their openers, South Africa experienced a collapse, with Australia's Mitchell Starc taking six wickets for 72 runs.