The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, often referred to simply as Wisden, is widely considered the most respected and influential publication in the world of cricket. First published in 1864 in the United Kingdom, it has since become the sport’s annual chronicle, documenting the game’s evolution across eras. Each edition includes a wealth of statistical records, expert analysis, editorial commentary, and honors such as the Wisden Cricketers of the Year and the Leading Cricketers in the World. Over the years, many Indian cricketers have earned recognition in Wisden’s pages, cementing their place in the history of the sport.
2025 Wisden Awards – Indian Winners
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Jasprit Bumrah
Award: Leading Men's Cricketer in the World
Why: Recognized for his remarkable consistency and impact across all formats and conditions in the 2024 season. Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure, regardless of pitch or opposition, made him a standout performer globally. -
Smriti Mandhana
Award: Leading Women's Cricketer in the World
Why: Honored for scoring nearly 1600 runs across all formats in 2024, including crucial knocks in major series. Her dominance with the bat and leadership on the field made her a defining force in women’s cricket last year.
Wisden Criticised WTC
In the latest Wisden's publications, they said the current World Test Championship (WTC) system has flaws and that the Championship can be arranged in a better way. According to them, it is a poorly organised contest which is pretending to be elite. The schedule for WTC is not symmetrical, which creates an unfair advantage. For example, in the last WTC cycle 2023-2025, South Africa played only 12 matches and qualified for the final, whereas England played 22 matches. This seems to be unfair with England, as they played a lot of matches against all the top teams.
Editor of the Wisden, Lawrence Booth, has suggested a more equitable system where he said that WTC should be a 4-year cycle. In these 4 years, each team will play against each other 2 times (home and away) in at least a 3-match series. This will ensure a fair competition for every team.
Also, one topic for argument in the publication was the lack of accountability within the ICC. They said that the ICC mostly works under the influence of the Indian board. these remarks were made because of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), decision not to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025(CT). This doesn't ensure fair competition and lacks game spirit.
Additionally, former England cricketer Mark Butcher has supported the thoughts of Wisden and said the WTC has made Test cricket "worse" by encouraging one-sided series and heavily favorable home conditions. According to him, teams are more focused on accumulating points rather than engaging in competitive, memorable Test battles, weakening the overall quality of the longest format.
Conclusion:
With the publication of Wisden, it is clear that the cricketing world is not happy with the structure of the current WTC cycle. With calls for a more balanced, transparent, and globally inclusive format, there’s a clear demand for reform. As influential voices like Wisden and former players speak out, the future of the World Test Championship may be heading toward a significant transformation. Previously, the ICC tried to create a 2-tier system for the Championship, but they delayed this plan. With so much criticism, it is for sure that the 2025-2027 WTC cycle will be the last played in this format.
About the Author
Advait Kadam is a sports writer at Vygr Media, specializing in cricket coverage and match analysis. With a background in Sports Management and a passion for storytelling, he brings sharp insights and fresh perspectives to every game.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Vygr’s views.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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