In the new issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, out June 6, we celebrate James Anderson’s extraordinary, unrepeatable career by tracking his progress from greenhorn tearaway to England’s greatest bowler of all time. Diving deep into the CricViz archive, Rob Smyth analyses the different stages of Anderson’s career and explores what makes him so special.
We also mark the start of the Men’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and US by giving you the lowdown on all 20 teams – including a special feature on Uganda, a new cricketing nation on the world stage – while Tim Wigmore explains why this tournament could be described as the sport’s first genuinely global event, Jo Harman hails the long-awaited return of Jofra Archer and Mel Farrell speaks to Daren Sammy, West Indies’ head coach who’s bidding for a third World Cup title. And Cameron Ponsonby gets in the swing by having a net with Julian Wood, the power-hitting guru.
Elsewhere, we cover an absorbing first half of the County Championship season in ‘The County Files’ with stories on all 18 clubs, Raf Nicholson reports on the opening exchanges in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, we speak to Geoff Miller about playing for England and leading the selection panel, and Tymal Mills remembers the day when his life changed forever.
Our columnists are in fine form, too: Mark Ramprakash considers the impact of The Hundred on the wider English game, Andrew Miller gets to the bottom of Monty Panesar’s political escapade, Lawrence Booth tackles the issue of the domestic schedule, and guest columnist Matt Roller reflects on a run-glut of an IPL.
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Wisden Cricket Monthly is also available in digital form. You can purchase single issues or sign up for a subscription here.
10 standout quotes from the new issue:
"Since the start of 2010/11 Ashes, when Anderson started to prove he was less fair-weather friend and more all-weather champion, he has taken 214 Test wickets at 26.42 overseas. In the last five years of his Test career, Anderson has averaged 28.62 at home and 20.16 abroad. The harder the yakka, the more he relished it.”
Rob Smyth on the brilliance of James Anderson
"I was fortunate enough to play alongside Jimmy when he made his Test debut at Lord’s against Zimbabwe, back in 2003. He was unbelievably shy and quiet in the dressing room. On the field, the talent was incredible. His ability to swing the ball at high pace – he was genuinely quick back then – was fresh and startling.”
Mark Butcher remembers the emergence of a special talent
"I’m as excited as everyone else about Jof’s return because he’s so close to me, but I’m a fan as well. He’s box office, for sure."
Chris Jordan on Jofra Archer's return for the T20 World Cup
"I’ve always been a massive supporter of West Indies cricket. I was a fan before, then became a player, then became an inspiration. And then back as a fan and supporter. So when a scenario presented itself for me to give back to the sport that made me who I am, I couldn’t focus on the past.”
Daren Sammy on becoming West Indies men’s white-ball coach
"Fortunately – in another gratifying sign that cricket’s close-knit community does know when to look out for its own – it seems that Monty did have enough genuine friends on hand to help wrestle him from George Galloway’s crocodilian jaws, only a week after he’d been paraded as the new Workers Party of Great Britain parliamentary candidate for Ealing Southall."
Andrew Miller on Monty Panesar's brief political career
"So let’s cut to the end game. Let’s imagine what the cricketing landscape looks like in 10 years’ time if The Hundred reaches the level the ECB hope it will. Will we even still have Championship cricket? Why would any county focus their resources on the longer format and why would any cricketer want to play in it?"
Mark Ramprakash on the wider impact of The Hundred
"There are no stumps. Why would there be? There’s no need for them here and I can say hand on heart that the lack of them is liberating. This is a session where you’re thinking about how well things could go. Not about having to pick your stumps up four times a session if you miss a couple.”
Cameron Ponsonby on his net with Julian Wood, power-hitting guru
"After taking three scalps in a stalemate at Lord’s, he collected a 10-bag at Edgbaston, beginning an extraordinary streak of five 10-wicket hauls in the space of six matches, three of those coming on the traditionally seam-friendly tracks of England and New Zealand.”
Jo Harman on Murali’s prolific 2006 (90 wickets at 16.90) in our feature on Test cricket’s great calendar years
"You’ll see someone play and you’ll know if they’ve got the technical ability to be an international cricketer. Then once they’ve passed that test, you’ve got to find out if they’ve got the passion to want to do it. Then the hardest part is whether they’re mentally tough enough to do it.”
Geoff Miller on his time as England’s national selector
"It was nuts. Your name pops up on the screen and people are sat on tables putting paddles up. It was in lakh and crore – I didn’t really understand what the amounts were so I didn’t know exactly what I’d gone for, I just knew it was a lot. It looked like the bidding was done and then RCB and KKR upped their offers. Certainly not the worst morning I’ve had.”
Tymal Mills on the auction which changed his life
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