Ben Stokes became Wisden’s leading cricketer of the year last year, breaking Virat Kohli’s three-year dominance. The England all-rounder retained the Wisden Cricketers Alumni, released on Thursday (April 15).
In one calendar year, Stokes averaged 84.21 Test runs at 58.28, more than anyone else. He has taken a total of 19 wickets at an average of 18.83 with the ball.
Stokes also became the leading cricketer in the 2020 edition, winning the World Cup against England the previous year and playing heroic innings to beat Australia in the Ashes Test at Headingley. He became the first English cricketer since Andrew Flintoff in 2005 to win the title.
Wisden editor Lawrence Booth said: “Ben Stokes is the first England player to lead Wisden more than once. He has retained the title of 2020. He did so in the face of a personal tragedy, such as the death of his 65-year-old father Jade in December.
Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens has been named one of Wisden’s five-year-old cricketer. The 44-year-old was named the fourth oldest player to perform at the Bob Willis Trophy. Cricketers have been named in this list as a reward for their influence or great performance in previous English seasons, but never more than once.
Along with Stevens, West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, and England’s two new top-order batsmen Dom Sibley and Jack Crowley are the other four cricketers of the year.