Anderson has played four Championship games for Lancashire in each of the last three years. But England’s home Test season starts around six weeks later than usual this summer, against West Indies on July 10, on account of a scheduling clash with the T20 World Cup.
“With the Tests being in July, it’s tricky,” Anderson said at The Oval, speaking as the government announced a £35 million investment package in grassroots cricket. “It’ll probably be June before I play, or maybe the end of May.”
Lancashire play seven Championship games before the start of the T20 Blast in May. They then have two more fixtures starting on June 23 (vs Kent at Canterbury) and June 30 (vs Nottinghamshire at Southport) which Anderson may target before the first Test against West Indies.
Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, believes the participation of many England players at the start of the season is “a real boost” for the status of county cricket. “Aside from the IPL, we can all focus on first-class, red-ball Championship for April and May, and that’s a good thing,” Gould said.
