England's record Test wicket-taker James Anderson was treated with disrespect when he was released by Lancashire, according to his former pace bowling partner Stuart Broad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lancashire announced on Sunday that Anderson would not have his contract renewed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It came after a season in which the 44-year-old took 50 County Championship wickets at an average of 17 and was named Lancashire's player of the year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Anderson indicated that the decision to part ways with the club had been taken out of his hands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Broad, who formed a lethal tandem with Anderson in England's pace attack, slammed Lancashire's decision to axe his old friend.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think it's a pretty disrespectful way for Lancashire to deliver that news to him," Broad told the For The Love of Cricket podcast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Anderson retired from Test cricket in 2024 with 704 wickets, the most by a fast bowler in the five-day format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Only spin bowling stars Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) took more Test wickets than Anderson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Broad said the Lancashire controversy echoed how Anderson's England career was ended in 2024 before he was ready to call time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I feel for Jimmy because the Test career sort of got ended by (director of cricket) Rob Key and (former coach) Brendon McCullum before -- a bit of a shock to Jimmy for sure, and done in a pretty poor way," Broad said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n