Wisden names Cummins the world’s best cricketer, more than a decade after an Australian last won the title

Pat Cummins has become the first Australian since 2012 to be named the best Wisden cricketer in the world.

Other Australians honored by the publication were Travis Head, for the year’s best test match performance, and Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc and Ashleigh Gardner, who were among the almanac’s five cricketers of the year.

Cummins led his country to success in both the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup. He succeeded Ben Stokes, who claimed the prestigious title three times in the last four years. The last Australian to receive the award was Michael Clarke.

Head won the Wisden Trophy for Test performance of the year for what editor Lawrence Booth described as “his pulsating 163 off just 174 balls”. [which] helped Australia take control of the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval.”

There was also a distinct Ashes flavor to the historic Cricketers of the Year panel, the coveted one-off award in the race dating back to 1889 and focusing on performances during the previous English summer.

Gardner was the only Women’s Ashes player chosen.

“Having been player of the tournament when Australia won the T20 World Cup in South Africa, Ashleigh Gardner enjoyed a central role in retaining the Ashes, helping them to victory in the Test match at Trent Bridge with 12 wickets for their breaks. – the second best analysis in the history of women’s events,” Booth wrote.

The editor added: “Usman Khawaja was a thorn in the side of the English bowlers throughout the Ashes, facing 1,263 balls and scoring 496 runs, in each case the highest tally of the series. Without his double of 141 and 65 at Edgbaston , where batted over the five days, Australia may not have retained the urn.”