Ben Stokes named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer within the World for third time in 4 years

Stokes, who achieved the honour in 2020 and 2021 for his efficiency with bat and ball, has made it three wins in 4 years primarily off the again of his management. Since being appointed as Test captain initially of final summer season, the 31-year-old has overseen a dramatic shift within the crew’s fortunes, inspiring them to 10 wins in 12.

Wins in opposition to New Zealand, India and South Africa, then successes on the excursions of Pakistan – England grew to become the primary aspect to win 3-0 – and New Zealand, put Stokes in exalted firm. Not solely did he obtain 10 wins faster than any earlier England captain – Michael Vaughan was the earlier quickest to the mark, from 16 matches – however the feat equalled that of Australia’s Lindsay Hassett, who had beforehand stood alone with 10 from 12.

The revitalisation was a lot wanted after England’s run of 1 victory within the earlier 17 Tests earlier than Stokes’ appointment. The allrounder additionally averaged 40 with the bat and 25.66 with the ball that summer season, occurring on to assist England to the T20 World Cup in October, dragging the crew over the road in a closing but once more.

“It’s hard to think of any other cricketer who could have transformed his team’s fortunes so suddenly as Ben Stokes,” Lawrence Booth, Wisden’s editor, mentioned. “When he took over the Test captaincy, England had won one game in their previous 17. By the time they had become the first visiting side to win 3-0 in Pakistan, they had won nine out of ten, and were playing with unprecedented style and verve.

“And he was forceful with each bat and ball, scoring a series-turning century in opposition to South Africa in Manchester. Later within the yr, he steered England to the T20 World Cup with the defining innings of the ultimate in opposition to Pakistan in Melbourne – the icing on the cake for a cricketer who has reworked the best way the sport is performed.”

“More enterprise is required to take care of curiosity in Test cricket, after the worldwide fixture checklist confirmed a hopeless imbalance: between this summer season and the top of the 2026-27 winter, England will play 20 of their 43 Tests in opposition to Australia or India; and solely these three groups will usually contest significant sequence.”

Foakes’ high standards behind the stumps were matched by his calmness in front of them, coming to England’s rescue twice. The first helped them over the line at Lord’s against New Zealand with an unbroken stand of 120 with Joe Root, before scoring 113 not out as part of a stand with Stokes against South Africa that put them in charge of the Old Trafford Test.

Potts, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong start to his international career, taking 20 wickets at 28.00, playing the first five Tests of the summer. He underlined his worth as an incisive seamer by removing Kane Williamson three times and then Virat Kohli in the one-off India Test. Domestically, he was just as relentless, with 58 County Championship wickets at 17.87.

“His contribution to leg-spin, cricket’s hardest ability, hardly wants restating,” writes Booth in his Editor’s Notes. “Just as immense was the blow he struck for all bowlers. Three of the Cricketers of the Century – Don Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Viv Richards – have been batters, and the all-rounder, Garry Sobers, averaged 57. But Warne drew the gaze to the opposite finish of the pitch. He was a one-man theatre, a strolling field workplace.”

The proliferation of T20 franchise tournaments over the last year is put under the microscope. The SA20, ILT20 and Major League Cricket and the ever-expanding IPL has seen the landscape under cricket’s feet shift immeasurably. Booth insists the increased cannibalisation within the game, both from franchise tournaments and international boards, must be addressed.

“The query of what cricket needs to be is acquainted sufficient – although has by no means been extra pressing… Now, three energy blocs are in a relationship that’s part-symbiotic, part-parasitic: the T20 franchises, in it for themselves; the ICC, nominally in cost; and the nationwide boards, eager to placate broadcasters and generate their very own income.

“The battle for time and space is not sustainable, causing chaos on the one hand, ennui on the other. Four days after lifting the T20 World Cup, Jos Buttler led England in an ODI series in Australia. They lost 3-0, but few could tell you much about it: no one watched, and no one – not even Buttler – greatly cared.”