Wisden 2025: Starc Named Leading Cricketer, India Dominates Annual Honors
The 163rd edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has named Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc as its Leading Men's Cricketer of the Year for 2025. The publication also announced its annual list of Five Cricketers of the Year, which featured four Indian players, alongside other individual awards. The almanack is scheduled for publication soon.
Leading Award Recipients
The following individuals were recognized in the 2025 Wisden awards:
- Leading Men's Cricketer of the Year: Mitchell Starc (Australia)
- Five Cricketers of the Year: Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj (all India), and Haseeb Hameed (England).
- Wisden Trophy for Test Performance of the Year: Shubman Gill, for scoring 269 and 161 runs in a Test match at Edgbaston.
- Leading Women's Cricketer of the Year: Deepti Sharma (India).
- Leading T20 Cricketer of the Year: Abhishek Sharma (India).
The Five Cricketers of the Year honor is based predominantly on performances during the previous English summer. Haseeb Hameed was recognized for captaining Nottinghamshire to a domestic title.
Mitchell Starc's Performance
Mitchell Starc's award follows a standout year in Test cricket during 2025. His key statistical achievements included:
- Taking 55 wickets at an average of 17.00 across 11 Test matches, a career-best annual tally.
- Claiming 31 wickets at an average of 19.93 during the Ashes series against England.
- Recording bowling figures of 6 wickets for 9 runs in a Test match against the West Indies in Jamaica.
Starc becomes the fifth Australian man to receive Wisden's top annual honor, following Ricky Ponting (2003), Shane Warne (2004), Michael Clarke (2012), and Pat Cummins (2023).
Editorial Commentary on England's Ashes Performance
In the editor's notes, Wisden editor Lawrence Booth commented on England's performance in the Ashes series, which Australia won 4-1.
Booth described England's approach as "feckless, reckless and legless" and wrote that the series represented "a privilege so carelessly squandered."
The publication's comment section contained criticism of the England leadership group—head coach Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes, and managing director Rob Key. The criticism focused on what was described as inadequate preparation, muddled tactics, and an overly indulgent approach to the social aspects of touring. The notes stated that this leadership group maintained their positions following the series.
Future Outlook
Mitchell Starc, who turned 36 in January, has indicated he is open to participating in the next Ashes series, scheduled for 2027, when he will be 37 years old.