Pat Cummins, the Australian fast bowler, received recognition from Wisden for his outstanding performances in 2023. Cummins led Australia to victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India and also captained the team to retain the Ashes. Additionally, he led Australia to a win in the 50-over World Cup final against India in Ahmedabad.
Cummins, aged 30, became the first Australian to win this award since Michael Clarke in 2012. Lawrence Booth, the editor of Wisden, praised Cummins for his exceptional achievements, highlighting his role in Australia’s success across formats.
The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, published annually since 1864, also named five Cricketers of the Year. Among them were three Australian internationals: Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc, and Ashleigh Gardner. Khawaja was recognized for his performances in the Ashes, while Starc impressed with his wicket-taking abilities during the series. Gardner’s outstanding performance in the Women’s Ashes Test earned her recognition.
Travis Head, another Australian player, was awarded the Wisden Trophy for Test performance of the year for his crucial innings of 163 in the WTC final against India.
In the women’s category, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt was named the Leading Women’s Cricketer in the World for her remarkable performances in the Ashes series. Hayley Matthews from the West Indies received the award for Leading T20 Cricketer of the Year.
Overall, it was a year of success for Australian cricketers, with several players being honored for their exceptional contributions to the sport.