"I’d Buy Jimmy": Dale Steyn Backs James Anderson To Get A Gig In SA20

Arnav Chopra

Dale Steyn and James Anderson (Source: @IPL, @lancscricket/X.com)Dale Steyn and James Anderson (Source: @IPL, @lancscricket/X.com)

Former South African bowler Dale Steyn has put his weight behind former English pacer James Anderson to get a deal in the SA20 2026 auction. After retiring last year in 2024, Anderson has been looking for T20 deals across the globe.

Steyn Backs Anderson To Be Bought In SA20 Auction

After retiring as a Test legend for England, bowler James Anderson now wants his name to be remembered in T20 cricket as well, as the right-armer is hoping to get deals across various franchise tournaments in the global circuit. Having been snubbed in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and the Big Bash League (BBL) previously, and subsequently playing as a replacement player in The Hundred 2025, Anderson might be hoping to get a deal in the SA20.

The 43-year-old bowler, who has been looking for deals, plied his trade previously for his county side Lancashire in the T20 Blast, where his returns were decent.

However, with the SA20 auction a month away, South African bowling legend Dale Steyn believes that he would buy his former counterpart Anderson in the SA20, but unfortunately, he is not associated with any side currently, as he previously served as the bowling coach of SunRisers Eastern Cape. Nevertheless, he still hopes that someone puts the paddle up for him in the auction if the legendary bowler is interested.

"I’d buy Jimmy in the SA20. Unfortunately I’m not a coach anymore. Hope he still gets a gig if he wants it," Steyn wrote on his X account.

Anderson, who has focused his entire attention on his Test career over the last two decades, is now shifting his interest to T20 cricket, as the booming format is now as lucrative as Test cricket for Anderson, who was asked to retire from red-ball cricket in 2024.

Anderson's Forgetful Debut In The Hundred

After being previously left out in The Hundred draft, Anderson came in as a late replacement player in the Manchester Originals side in the ongoing The Hundred men's competition in 2025. Making his debut against Southern Brave at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, Anderson had a forgettable debut, as he bowled 20 deliveries to concede 36 runs at 1.8 runs per ball (RPB).

Earlier in the day, Originals batted first and scored 131 after the completion of their 100 deliveries, with Phil scoring 60. In return, Brave edged out Originals in a thriller, as they won by just a single wicket with one delivery to spare, as the match went right down to the wire.