In the new issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, out August 15, Phil Walker speaks to Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson, the spearheads of Ben Stokes’ latest tactical shift.

Atkinson reflects on his sensational debut series against the West Indies and tells us there’s no reason why he can’t become the best Test bowler in the world, while Wood says he’s raring to go against Sri Lanka after his breathtaking spells at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

Jo Harman marks Sri Lanka’s first Test series in England for eight years by revisiting previous tours which have shown the Lions should never be underestimated, even if they often have been, and Nicholas Brookes examines why the island is producing fast bowlers at an unprecedented rate.

Elsewhere in one of our most wide-ranging issues yet, we have news from all 18 counties in ‘The County Files’, Courtney Walsh talks to Mel Farrell about his passion for the women’s game, Daniel Gallan considers why transformation remains elusive in South African cricket, and we have an exclusive interview with Danni Wyatt about her unique England career.

We also have Nathan Johns on the lessons Scotland can learn from Ireland as they contemplate becoming a Full Member, Rob Smyth dives into the extraordinary outlier of a Test match between England and South Africa at The Oval of 30 years ago, and our columnists are in hard-hitting form as Mark Ramprakash calls for Andy Flower to replace Matthew Mott, Lawrence Booth hails the impact of England’s Test novices against the Windies, and Andrew Miller questions whether The Hundred is really oven-ready for investment.

And finally, we have a poignant tribute to the great Graham Thorpe, the everyman hero touched by magic.