Jacob Bethell, the breakout star of English cricket, takes the cover of the first Wisden Cricket Monthly of 2025, out on January 16, following a whirlwind few months for the 21-year-old.

Jo Harman examines Bethell’s intriguing backstory, speaking to those who know him best about his journey from Barbados to Warwickshire, and considers where he fits into England’s immediate plans ahead of a tantalising year.

Elsewhere, a panel of more than 40 writers and broadcasters select WCM’s Men’s Test XI of 2024, and we also reveal our Women’s Cross-Format XI from the past 12 months.

We have exclusive interviews with Dan Worrall, the Australian international who could be playing for England in the Ashes, Scott Borthwick, who explains his new player/coach role at Durham, and Ricky Ellcock, the Middlesex tearaway who has led a life so extraordinary that it could have been taken from a film script.

Mel Farrell previews the Women’s Ashes as Heather Knight’s side bid for their first series win over Australia for 11 years, we reveal No.8 to No.1 in our countdown of Test cricket's greatest away series victories, and Rob Smyth trawls the ICC archives to reveal the English pairings which have topped the Test rankings.

As for our columnists, Lawrence Booth says player power has never been stronger, Andrew Miller argues Australia-India is bigger than the Ashes, guest writer Cameron Ponsonby looks ahead to the return of the Champions Trophy, and Katya Witney takes the ECB to task for turning a blind eye to the plight of women in Afghanistan.