Pat Cummins and Nat Sciver-Brunt have been crowned the Leading Cricketers in the World for 2024 by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Cummins, Australia’s captain and fast-bowling spearhead, led his team to victories in the ICC World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup. He also oversaw Australia’s successful defense of the Ashes against England. Sciver-Brunt, meanwhile, has been recognized as the pre-eminent women’s cricketer, particularly for her starring role in the Women’s Ashes, where she produced back-to-back ODI centuries.
The thrilling nature of both the Men’s and Women’s Ashes is reflected in the Anglo-Aussie flavor of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. Three Australians are named among the Five, including Ashleigh Gardner, Usman Khawaja, and Mitchell Starc. England’s Harry Brook and Mark Wood also make the list.
Travis Head has been awarded the Wisden Trophy for the year’s best Test performance for his match-winning innings of 163 in the World Test Championship final. Hayley Matthews becomes the first female to be named the Leading Twenty20 Cricketer.
Wisden’s editor, Lawrence Booth, highlights the compelling nature of the Ashes battle and the impact of England’s ultra-attacking “Bazball” approach. He also appeals for a reappraisal of the Spirit of Cricket and criticizes the game’s administrators for undermining the competitive nature of international cricket with an inequitable split of ICC revenues.
