Stokes first England player to win Wisden award twice

Ben Stokes has received a welcome pick-me-up after his Indian Premier League disappointment by becoming the first England player to be named Wisden leading cricketer in the world twice.

The all-rounder, 29, won the award for a second successive year after scoring more Test runs than any other batsman in 2020, with 641 runs in seven matches, while also taking 19 wickets.

Stokes averaged 58.27 in Tests, with knocks of 120 against South Africa and 176 against West Indies. His wickets came at an average of just 18.73.

Across all formats, Stokes racked-up 767 runs at 51.13 in 13 matches, and 25 wickets at 18.84 apiece.

The award should boost his spirits after he was ruled out of the rest of the IPL on Tuesday with a broken finger while playing for Rajasthan Royals in their opening match.

Beth Mooney, who scooped player of the tournament as Australia retained their Women’s T20 World Cup title 13 months ago, has been named the female cricketer of the year. She was also the most prolific scorer in the 2020-21 Women’s Big Bash League.

Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens became the oldest person since Ewart Astill in 1933 to be named as one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.

Stevens, 44, who made a century in last week’s opening round of County Championship matches, is the fourth-oldest recipient of the award, which dates back to 1889.

England’s Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and West Indies’ Jason Holder join Stevens on the 2021 list.