Ben Stokes, Virat Kohli and Shane Warne: winners of Wisden's leading cricketer in world award – in pictures

All-rounder becomes first England cricketer to be given honour for second time

WISDEN LEADING CRICKETER OF YEAR WINNERS: 2020 – Ben Stokes (England). Getty

2019 – Ben Stokes (England). Reuters

2018 – Virat Kohli (India). Reuters

2017 – Virat Kohli (India). Reuters

2016 – Virat Kohli (India). Reuters

2015 – Kane Williamson (New Zealand). Getty

2014 – Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka). Getty

2013 – Dale Steyn (South Africa). Getty

2012 – Michael Clarke (Australia). Reuters

2011 – Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka). Reuters

2010 – Sachin Tendulkar (India). Reuters

2009 – Virender Sehwag (India). Reuters

2008 – Virender Sehwag (India). Reuters

2007 – Jacques Kallis (South Africa). Reuters

2006 – Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka). Getty

2005 – Andrew Flintoff (England). Getty

2004 – Shane Warne (Australia). Getty

2003 – Ricky Ponting (Australia). Reuters

Ben Stokes has received a welcome pick-me-up after his Indian Premier League disappointment by becoming the first England player to be named Wisden leading cricketer in the world twice.

The 29-year-old all-rounder won the award for a second successive year due to scoring more Test runs than any other batsman in 2020, with 641 in seven matches, while also taking 19 wickets.

Stokes averaged 58.27 in Tests, including 120 against South Africa and 176 against West Indies, while his 19 wickets came at an average of just 18.73.

The New Zealand-born star again underlined his status as one of the modern greats racking up 767 runs at 51.13 in 13 matches across all formats, adding 25 wickets at 18.84.

The award should boost his spirits after he was ruled out of the rest of the IPL on Tuesday due to a broken finger playing for Rajasthan Royals in their opening match of campaign.

Beth Mooney, who was named player of the tournament as Australia retained their Women's T20 World Cup title 13 months ago, has been named the female cricketer of the year. She was also the most prolific scorer in the 2020-21 Women's Big Bash League.

Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens became the oldest person since Ewart Astill in 1933 to be named as one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year.

Stevens, 44, who made a century in last week's opening round of County Championship matches, is the fourth-oldest recipient of the award, which dates back to 1889.

England batsmen Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and former West Indies captain Jason Holder join Stevens on the 2021 list.