LONDON: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has ended Virat Kohli’s three-year reign as Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world after playing a starring role in the World Cup win last year.
The 2020 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack crowned the all-rounder as the sport’s pre-eminent player. He is the first England player to receive the honour since Andrew Flintoff in 2005. Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry was named the top female cricketer by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
The 28-year-old won the man-of-the-match award in the World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s followed by remarkable innings of 135 not out in the third Ashes Test against Australia.
“Ben Stokes pulled off the performance of a lifetime — twice in the space of a few weeks,” said Wisden editor Lawrence Booth. “First, with a mixture of outrageous talent and good fortune, he rescued England’s run-chase in the World Cup final, before helping to hit 15 off the super over.”
“Then, in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, he produced one of the great innings, smashing an unbeaten 135 to pinch a one-wicket win. Against red ball or white, he was a force of nature.”
Stokes won the International Cricket Council’s player of the year award in January. He was named the recipient of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy at the ICC Awards earlier this year.
England pace bowler Jofra Archer, who bowled the super over in the World Cup final, is among Wisden’s five cricketers of the year. Andre Russell was adjudged the leading T20 cricketer for the year, with his performances in last year’s Indian Premier League coming in for special praise.
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