James Anderson Joins Luke Sutton to Co-Own Napoli Knights in Italia T10 League

Co-Owner Role: James Anderson has been announced as the co-owner of the Napoli Knights, a franchise in the upcoming Italia T10 League launching in Rome next month (running from November 18 to 29).

Partnership: He shares ownership with Luke Sutton—his former Lancashire teammate, roommate, and long-time former manager—whose agency Activate Sport and Leisure operates the franchise.

Timing and Playing Future

Lancashire Departure: The announcement follows confirmation that Lancashire will not offer Anderson a new contract for next season, with new director of cricket Paul Farbrace delivering the news. Anderson expressed his disappointment publicly on Instagram, stating it wasn't how he wanted it to end.

Unclear Playing Future: At 44 years old, Anderson's immediate playing future remains uncertain as he weighs whether to seek a deal with another county for 2027 alongside his growing media career (including BBC punditry and the Tailenders podcast). Stuart Broad notably criticized Lancashire's handling of the situation on his podcast, calling it disrespectful to a club great.

Franchise Irony: The move into T10 ownership comes as a surprise given Anderson's well-documented skepticism toward short-form franchise cricket—having admitted last year that he "hated every minute" of his brief stint with Manchester Originals in The Hundred.

League Context and Growth in Italy

Tournament Setup: Founded by Nadeem Shahid's Apex T10 Limited, the Italia T10 League features other high-profile ownership groups, including the owners of the PSL team Quetta Gladiators running the Rome franchise.

Expanding Cricket in Italy: The league arrives at a time of rising prominence for Italian cricket following the national men's team's historic qualification and appearance at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.