Wisden Cricket Monthly is ‘the independent voice of cricket’. Read the best writers, exclusive interviews, and the most comprehensive coverage of both the professional and amateur game every month.
Just passing through
EDITOR’S LIST
THE Top Six
Saturated schedule leaves World Cup preparations in the shade • England’s men begin the defence of their 50-over World Cup title in October, and yet they ’ve not had their best XI on the park since that unforgettable day at Lord’s in July 2019. Andrew Miller considers how that will impact their chances and what it says about the shifting sands of the global game
Team of the Month • Jo Harman selects a side of the standout performers from the last month’s action, covering stonewallers in the Test arena and boundaryclearers on the T20 circuit
Nagpur serves up a familiar Aussie nightmare • Adam Collins was at Nagpur to see Australia’s long-term planning fall to pieces in the face of a relentless, voracious Indian side
Into the breach • On March 4, the women’s game will take its single biggest leap forward yet, writes Isa Guha
NEWS CYCLE • Australia lose to India, everyone is angry, and no one is surprised, writes Ben Gardner
Rainford-Brent finds the ace in the pack • The rapid success of the African-Caribbean Engagement programme has dispelled the myth that black kids no longer like cricket, writes Lawrence Booth
Quick Singles
BELINDA CLARK • The former Australia captain speaks to Mel Farrell about the where the rapidly evolving women’s game is heading next
RE:VIEW • In the midst of an India v Australia Test series where the nature of the tracks has been a hot topic, three Wisden writers consider whether pitch preparation is tilted too far in favour of the home side
Z CRICKIPEDIA
Essex: notes on a scandal • Phil Walker explores the state of play at Essex – aclub which prides itself on diversity, braced for the publication of an investigation into allegations of racism and bullying
In other news...
Mailbox • In association with Botham Wines, the letter of the month receives a bottle of Botham 80 Series Cabernet Sauvignon – an extra special wine presented in a hand-embossed wooden case*
KEY/ BUTCHER • England’s managing director of men’s cricket sits down with his former teammate and Sky colleague to discuss his first 10 months in the job
‘County cricket has to move with the times’
From Beckenham to the boardroom
Smiling like he means it • Jack Leach’s England career has gone through various incarnations. Only now is he finally able to say he belongs
CHAMPION COUNTIES • Last summer, Surrey were peerless in the County Championship, clinching their 20th outright title with a game to spare. We consider where their achievement sits in the pantheon of great post-war campaigns
IMPERIOUS PRIME LUCRE • For Matt Roller, the IPL has been a constant presence in his cricketwatching life. As the game-changing tournament begins its 16th year, he picks out the key moments from its story so far, and considers what the next extravaganza might throw up
16 Qs for IPL16
SLIP FIELDERS • In the sixth part of our series, we celebrate those masters of the office
The summer that got cricket swinging • John Stern takes us back 60 years to a landmark summer when cricket changed forever
1963 on and off the field
PROCREATION • Next in our series on what it’s like to be the parent of an international cricketer, Matt Root talks to Jo Harman about fathering a great of the game
ALLAN LAMB • The England and Northants legend on switching allegiances, taking on the Windies and fighting the most important battle of his life
Create a cricket pitch
HOTBEDS • Next...