Jimmy Anderson will NOT retire from country cricket - and has made himself available to Lancashire in the Championship and T20 Blast this season.

The icon, now 42, retired from international last year. His final game came last summer with a

Speculation has since swirled regarding Anderson’s county career having spent his entire career with boyhood side . And he is not yet ready to completely hang up his bowling boots.

“I am incredibly excited to sign this contract with Lancashire and resume playing professional cricket again next season," he said.

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“This Club has played a huge part in my life since I was a teenager, so to have the opportunity to wear the Red Rose again and help the side in both red and white ball cricket is one that I am really looking forward to.

“I have been working hard on keeping my fitness levels high and continuing to bowl regularly during my time as a coach with England throughout the winter, with the aim of being able to hit the ground running when the county season starts in April.

“I love playing at Emirates Old Trafford and to have the chance to walk out and bowl in front of our Members and supporters again this summer is going to be really special.”

has been keeping himself fit as a member of the England Test coaching team. It is also reported that he worked on his fitness with England’s strength and conditioning coaches during the tours to Pakistan and New Zealand.

Should next season go well, it could open up the opportunity for him to extend his successful career even further. Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein hinted last year that Anderson could potentially return. Speaking to Radio Lancashire, he said: "I think the positive thing is that it's not a no [to Anderson returning].

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“We are not pressuring him. He's been fantastic, he's had an incredible career. He definitely can still play, it'll just be whether he still has the desire to want to. Bowling is hard work and we will let him make the decision when the time is right."

He added: "Everyone talks about age but he's in such good physical shape and that zip is there. You can see the difference between him and the other bowlers - even in the opposition.

"I think that's probably the question mark that everyone has on him getting older but he's still got it. He hasn't bowled for about five months so he looked in great shape."

Anderson attempted to dip his toes into franchise cricket in but was not picked up. He has not played any cricket since 2014. In the meantime, his coaching career has been put on a brief pause with England not set to play another Test match until a one-off match with Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in late May.

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