James Anderson, the well-regarded former England bowler, has been named as a co-owner of the new Italian T10 franchise, Naples Knights. This comes as his future in playing remains in doubt, following Lancashire’s decision not to renew his contract for the next season at the age of 44.
The Italia T10 League, a fresh initiative from Apex T10 Limited led by former Essex and Surrey batter Nadeem Shahid, is set to debut in Rome from 18th to 29th November. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Activate Sport and Leisure, a British talent management agency, will run the Napoli Knights. Anderson is sharing ownership with Luke Sutton, a former Lancashire wicketkeeper whom Anderson is well acquainted with through their past professional relationship.
Questions linger about whether Anderson has made a financial investment in the team or is engaging through ‘sweat equity’, but Luke Sutton remained tight-lipped on the matter when asked by Cricinfo.
Reflecting on Lancashire’s decision, Anderson shared his feelings on Instagram, “If it was up to me, it wouldn’t have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future.” Whether Anderson will pursue a deal with another county for the 2027 season remains uncertain. He has been expanding his media engagements for some time, with roles as a pundit for the BBC and contributions to the Tailenders podcast, along with a brief coaching stint for England post-international retirement.
His latest venture as a T10 franchise co-owner is particularly intriguing given his mixed feelings towards franchise cricket. Anderson had limited participation in shorter formats throughout his lengthy career, previously noting his lack of enjoyment during his time with Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
In a press release, Anderson stated, “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. Luke and I have a close history, so to be taking on this new challenge together is particularly special.”
With Italy’s cricket scene slowly rising, highlighted by their competitive performance in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, the league aims to further boost cricket’s profile. The Napoli Knights’ involvement seeks not only to compete but also to contribute to a growing cricket culture in Italy.
Luke Sutton shared the sentiment, saying, “We’re incredibly excited to be joining the Italia T10 as owners of Napoli Knights. Having spent so much of our lives involved in cricket, Jimmy and I see this as a fantastic opportunity to be part of something new and ambitious, and to help grow the game in an emerging cricket nation.”
Besides Napoli Knights, other franchises in the league have also drawn investments, notably the PSL’s Quetta Gladiators owning the Rome franchise, with other stakeholders including Indian and Pakistani businessmen. The league looks to provide thrilling cricket, highlight talent, and engage both Italian and global audiences.
