"Age Is Just A Number" | Wright Ready To Show Life Begins At 40

For many cricketers, particularly fast bowlers, the boots are long hung up by the time 40 candles are placed atop of their birthday cake. For Chris Wright, however, the fires are still lit as brightly as ever as he approaches a landmark birthday.

July will see the seasoned seamer celebrate turning 40, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. “Age is just a number,” he says following his latest pre-season training session. “I love cricket and enjoy bowling as much as I ever have, so I’m excited to still be playing. It’s more a case of how you are physically and mentally, and I feel great.”

Asked what spurs his motivation, Wright cites the camaraderie and the progression made by the Leicestershire squad. “I still love the day-to-day and being around the lads, so credit must go to everyone else for keeping me going. Importantly, we’re close as a team, and I want to be part of that success.

“Last year, we were a game or two away from the next level up in every competition - whether that’s promotion, a T20 quarter-final or wining the One Day Cup. We’re going in the right direction and it’s a fantastic environment to be a part of.”

Perched on 590 first-class wickets, the 39-year-old admits an individual career milestone is also on his radar. “I’m close to 600 first-class wickets, which has been a goal in the back of my mind too. It would be nice to bring that up this summer.”

Wright can perhaps take inspiration from another 40-something bowler, who has remained at the top of his game for three decades. After announcing earlier this month he’ll play for Lancashire beyond his 43^rd birthday, Jimmy Anderson could be an opponent for the Foxes in Division Two this season.

“Jimmy is a freak. He’s the pinnacle. Someone who keeps himself in great condition and is arguably the best bowler ever. He’s absolutely a role model and I’d be amazed if he wasn’t an inspiration for everyone, let alone me approaching 40. It’ll be great to play against him this year.”

Like Anderson, Wright’s longevity owes to his fitness regime. It’s an even greater pre-season priority for the Oxfordshire-born bowler, who is usually in his home gym following a personalised winter training programme at this time of year. But, after missing the first half of the 2024 campaign, he’s been with the squad from day one upon their mid-November return this time around.

“It’s been good to be back earlier. We’ve got a lot of lads away in Australia, the smart ones in the sun, so it’s a smaller group but it’s very enjoyable to be around everyone.” Speaking candidly about his absence last term, the 39-year-old says nine months away from Uptonsteel County Ground took both a mental and physical toll ahead of his return last July.

“It was really tough to come back midway through the season,” he admits. “Mentally, it was a difficult period because you don’t realise how much you miss the lads when you’re away. From a physical perspective, it was tough coming into the One Day Cup, which you can argue is the toughest format physically.

“It’s a lot of games in a short space of time, and the intensity is high, so it’s a gruelling block. It makes you realise how important pre-season and the gradual build up in intensity is. That will be crucial for me this time around.”

Still an ardent student of the game, Wright is making the most of his extra hours in the Indoor School and appears determined to add new strings to his bow ahead of a 22^nd season in professional cricket.

“We’re blessed with a lot of time in the winter, and I’m always keen to learn, so you can make some great gains. Now I’m a bit older, my training is quite skill focussed. I’m toying with a slightly different position on the crease to create a different angle and make my stock ball more effective, as well as some work around the wicket at left handers. I’ve had a nice winter under my belt so far.”

A County Championship and One Day Cup winner in his distinguished career, Wright has set lofty ambitions for the 2025 season. “I love the idea of promotion,” he beams. “In previous years, we weren’t quite ready, but now I believe we are. We’re tracking the right way, so it’s the natural progression if we can all find an extra 10 per cent here and there.

“In the 50 over format, I’d expect us to be pushing again for a semi-final and beyond. It would be amazing to win that trophy again. It was such a special day in 2023, and those memories fuel our desire to replicate that success.”

With Wright back as the leader of a burgeoning Foxes attack, aspirations of silverware aren’t unreasonable. And if the veteran seamer can prolong his potency beyond his landmark birthday, he’ll be cricketing proof that life truly does begin at 40.

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