In the new issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, out on January 18, we preview England’s five-Test series in India and consider whether Ben Stokes’ side can pull off ‘mission impossible’.

In a 20-page section looking at one of the game’s most intriguing rivalries, Anand Vasu examines the career of the incomparable R Ashwin, Aadya Sharma delves into the dream factory which produces India’s brightest young talents, Phil Walker speaks to Lancashire spinner Tom Hartley ahead of his first senior England tour, and John Stern takes us back to the eventful trip of 1984/85 when David Gower’s side prevailed against a backdrop of assassinations and political chaos.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we reveal the men’s Test XI and women’s cross-format XI of 2023, Michael Vaughan sets out his blueprint for the future of Test cricket in conversation with Mel Farrell, Courtney Walsh talks Aadam Patel through his record-breaking career, and award-winning author David Woodhouse introduces a new series on the literature of the game.

We also have hard-hitting columns from Andrew Miller and Lawrence Booth, Jo Harman investigates the origin story of the Chanderpauls, and Robin Smith tells James Wallace about the shot which changed his life.