Pat Cummins, Australia’s frontman, takes the cover of the latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, out on July 13. In a wide-ranging interview with Mel Farrell in the midst of a wild, unmissable Ashes series, Cummins talks about life, loss and leadership and insists he won’t back down from discussing the things he believes in.
“One thing I’ve learned about being a captain,” he says, “is that whether you stand up for something or whether you stand up for nothing, both are going to create backlash. I think it’s important that you just stay true to who you are. If you believe something, you live it.”
Also on the Ashes, Mark Ramprakash argues that Bazball can “deflect attention from performance-related inadequacies”, Andrew Miller reacts to a showstopper of a women’s Test match at Trent Bridge, James Wallace explores what it’s like to be burned by the game’s most iconic series, and Ollie Robinson gives the inside track from the England dressing room.
Elsewhere, Lawrence Booth shares his thoughts on the damning ICEC report, Ben Gardner delivers his magnum opus on the wobble-seam delivery, Nicholas Brookes considers whether cricket can finally crack America, and we have news on all 18 counties in ‘The County Files’.
We also have exclusive interviews with the recently retired Katherine Sciver-Brunt on her riotous career, Daryl Mitchell on growing up as the son of an All Black, Dimitri Mascarenhas tells us what it was like to be one of Shane Warne’s teammates, and, with the game in a state of flux, we address the burning questions facing the ICC.
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10 standout quotes from the new issue:
“To have this group of people from the other side of the world taking a moment out of their day to show their support when we’re normally fierce rivals on the field – it meant a lot to us, actually. That’s one of the beauties of sport. It’s just a game. There’s no need to get too caught up in it and hurl abuse. There’s so much good that can come out of sport and that was one of those moments.”
Pat Cummins on the Barmy Army’s tribute to his mother Maria during England’s tour of New Zealand
“The contest’s soaring narrative looks set to stand the test of time and be recalled for its individual feats and collective excellence, irrespective of the series scoreline to which it will be attached.”
Andrew Miller on the enthralling Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge
“We’ve got to realise that cricket boards will have different priorities, so if boards are potentially making losses from playing more Test matches in a series, then it’s not commercially viable for them. The schedules are filled up, there’s three formats to fit in, there’s franchise tournaments around the world and an ICC World Cup every year – so it’s whatever can be fitted in.”
Wasim Khan, the ICC’s cricket general manager, speaks to Phil Walker
“You cannot celebrate the success of the women’s game in some parts of the world while ignoring their oppression in others. If you don’t care about all of us, then you care about none of us. The Afghanistan chapter should go down as the most shameful page in the ICC’s history.”
Katya Witney on the plight of Afghanistan’s female cricketers
“If you’re being cynical, you could argue that ‘Bazball’ deflects attention from performance-related inadequacies. It’s almost like they never lose because they’ve played the game in the way they want to play it, putting bums on seats and entertaining the fans. Fighting for a greater cause.”
Mark Ramprakash on England’s red-ball revolution
“I certainly hope it doesn’t come off as disrespectful to the teams I made runs against, but yeah, I would. I would happily give up quite a few things to have made more runs in an Ashes series. That’s why we love it and we keep coming back. We always keep coming back, right?”
Adam Voges tells James Wallace he would have swapped the rest of his prolific Test career for success in the Ashes
“By interviewing over 4,000 people for the report, Cindy Butts and her team uncovered countless stories of those who had suffered in silence.”
Lawrence Booth reacts to the ICEC report
“To have a guy who’s grown up in America, and all of a sudden he’s playing on TV and hitting a superstar over his head for six… that’s what people want to see. And that will drive the sport.”
Liam Plunkett on Major League Cricket, the new franchise tournament in the US
“I walked Natalie out to the balcony and looked over, and there it was, the girls were all laid out on the floor of Lord’s spelling out I LOVE YOU. It was memorable, I’ll give it that. I shan’t forget the date at least!”
Katherine-Sciver Brunt remembers the aftermath of the 2017 World Cup final, when she made a declaration to her now-wife with the help of her England teammates
“Warnie was a beautiful man, a great teammate and an amazing friend. He had a huge impact on me in terms of my approach to cricket but also in terms of life in general. He was all about grabbing hold of life and enjoying it. I think of him every day as I try and do exactly that.”
Dimi Mascarenhas on the teammate that changed his life
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