Watch: James Anderson produced a masterclass of swing bowling for Lancashire, dismissing both Derbyshire openers cheaply on day two of their 2025 County Championship clash at Chesterfield.
It has been a year since James Anderson, Test cricket’s highest wicket-taking fast bowler, retired from international cricket. Yet despite hanging up his England boots, the image of him tormenting batters with the red ball remains relevant.
Playing his third 2025 County Championship match for Lancashire against Derbyshire, Anderson delivered a masterful opening spell, dismissing openers Mitchell Wagstaff (2) and Caleb Jewell (4) cheaply within his first two overs.
Both batters were undone while attempting to leave Anderson’s swinging deliveries, delivered from around the wicket. Wagstaff was trapped plumb lbw, while Jewell had his stumps rattled.
After a two-game mid-season trial in 2023 and two rounds of early and late-season trials last summer, the Kookaburra ball will now be used for the upcoming four rounds of the County Championship.
The machine-made Kookaburra features a flatter seam compared to the traditional Dukes ball, long the staple of English cricket. The switch has drawn criticism from many who argue it diminishes the effectiveness of seam bowlers. That makes it more remarkable that Anderson outfoxed Derbyshire’s openers with his trademark lateral movement.
Anderson is currently on a one-year county contract with Lancashire. Recently, he marked his return to the T20 format after 11 years and has been in terrific form for Lancashire in the T20 Blast. Before June 2025, Anderson had just one three-wicket haul in his T20 career. In the current T20 Blast season, he has taken three in four matches, including a career-best 3-17 against Durham.
Watch James Anderson dismiss both Derbyshire openers
Mitchell Wagstaff (2) lbw Anderson
King of swing. 👑 @jimmy9
🌹 #RedRoseTogether https://t.co/bifc6XEJqz pic.twitter.com/h6tCe8IwH5
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) June 30, 2025
Caleb Jewell (4) b Anderson
Pretty comprehensively bowled Admin would say… 🔥@jimmy9 on the march early on Day Two at Chesterfield.
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) June 30, 2025
🌹 #RedRoseTogether https://t.co/ogUFTRBp1g pic.twitter.com/CI29n9kb4M
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