In the new issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, out on May 19, Phil Walker considers what the next instalment in the Ben Stokes epic will look like following his appointment as England Test captain while John Stern examines the MD role and what Rob Key will bring to it.

We also have a special feature on the ‘next Fab Four’, picking out four strokemakers with the potential to follow in the footsteps of Root, Kohli, Williamson and Smith, including an exclusive interview with Marnus Labuschagne, the world’s No.1 Test batter.

Elsewhere, James Wallace has an unforgettable encounter with Chris Gayle, Mark Waugh reflects on the defining moments of his run-laden career, Steve Rhodes recalls keeping wicket to Devon Malcolm on the day he made history, Isa Guha speaks to her recently retired former teammate Anya Shrubsole, and Jo Harman revisits England’s miserable summer of 1999 when Nasser Hussain’s side sunk to rock bottom.

We have all 18 counties covered in our ‘County Files’ section, which includes interviews with Keith Barker, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Reece Topley, and our all-star team of columnists are in fine touch: Mark Ramprakash considers the art of captaincy, Andrew Miller celebrates the "injection of excellence” Pakistanis have brought to county cricket, Lawrence Booth finds himself caught up in the culture wars, and Andy Zaltzman explores the number 79 in unprecedented depth.