James Anderson has found a new avenue to continue playing cricket, with the former England fast bowler named co-owner and captain of Napoli Knights, one of six franchises in the inaugural Italia T10 League, which gets underway on November 18. The development comes shortly after Anderson's 25-year stint with Lancashire ended, with the county deciding against offering the 44-year-old a new contract.

Anderson, who holds the record for the most Test wickets by a fast bowler, will join forces with former Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton at the Naples-based franchise. The T10 venture offers Anderson a chance to remain on the field while taking on a leadership role in a tournament aimed at expanding cricket's reach in Italy.

"Cricket has given me so much throughout my career, and the opportunity to be involved in the game in a completely different way is something I'm really excited about," Anderson said.

"Luke and I have a close history, so to be taking on this new challenge together is particularly special. The Italia T10 is an exciting concept, and there's a huge opportunity to help raise the profile of cricket in Italy while bringing together some fantastic players and creating an entertaining tournament."

Meanwhile, Anderson's long-standing fast-bowling partner, Stuart Broad, voiced his displeasure over the manner in which Lancashire handled the legendary fast bowler's departure, calling the county's decision "disrespectful".

Even at 44, Anderson had enjoyed an impressive County Championship campaign, claiming 50 wickets at an average of 17 to earn Lancashire's player of the year award, despite the team's struggles in Division Two. Speaking on the podcast he co-hosts with Jos Buttler, For The Love of Cricket, Broad questioned the way the county had communicated its decision.

"I think it’s a pretty disrespectful way for Lancashire to deliver that news to him," Broad said on the podcast he co-hosts with Jos Buttler, For The Love of Cricket. "I didn’t like it from Lancashire, to be honest. I thought it was not done in the right way.

"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. I feel uneasy, uncomfortable about it. I think if Jimmy Anderson wants to play another year when he’s taken 50 ‘poles’ at 17, you find a way to do that."

Lancashire's decision comes at a challenging time for the county, which has faced discontent among its members and finished second from bottom in Division Two of the Championship. The club has also undergone changes in its senior management, with Richard Kenyon taking over as chief executive and Paul Farbrace appointed director of cricket.

Anderson himself had expressed his disappointment at the outcome, saying, "If it was up to me, it wouldn’t have ended like this."