Anderson played in 35 first-class and 9 List A matches for Otago and was selected for New Zealand whilst at the side.
Anderson also played Hawke Cup cricket for Southland, Northland and Manawatu between 1970 and 1980.
When Southland successfully defended the title against four challenges in 1973–74 he scored 561 runs at an average of 93.50 with three centuries.
[3] In the 16 Hawke Cup challenge matches he played, he scored 1,773 runs at an average of 70.92.
He played in all three home Tests against England in 1977–78, and all three on New Zealand's tour to England in 1978 as well as one of the two ODIs on the tour,[1][2] but scored only 26 Test runs in six innings; Wisden called his performance one of the "biggest disappointments".