England World Cup winner Anya Shrubsole will make history as the first woman to feature on the cover of the Wisden Almanack.
Almanack editor and Wisden.com columnist Lawrence Booth said: “Anya Shrubsole was a natural for this year’s Wisden cover, having stolen the show on the most memorable day of the 2017 summer. Against India, and in front of a packed Lord’s, she dramatically won the World Cup for England with figures of 6-46, the best in a final by man or woman.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“She had played a crucial hand in the semi-final against South Africa, too, nervelessly hitting the winning four with only two balls to spare.
“Shrubsole is Wisden’s first female cover star – and, thanks to the excitement she generated that day at Lord’s, almost certainly not the last.”
It’s been quite a year for Shrubsole. Not only did she win the World Cup with England but she was nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.
“It’s an amazing honour and privilege to be on the cover of Wisden,” she said. “To be on the front of such an iconic and historic book means a huge amount. Most of all, it’s a clear representation of the strength of the women’s game, and the impact of the World Cup victory and the work of the entire team.”
The world of cricket has praised Wisden for its decision and Shrubsole has received messages of congratulations from fellow players and fans. We round up some of the best reaction on Twitter:
Somerset praise “one of their own”.
“Keep smashing them boundaries,” said England international Kate Cross.
A “massive” achievement.
“Big moment for women’s sports”.
-
What to know before turning to AI for financial advicethe explainer It can help you crunch the numbers — but it might also pocket your data
-
Book reviews: 'The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction—and a Search for Relief' and 'Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run'Feature The search for a headache cure and revisiting Springsteen's 'Born to Run' album on its 50th anniversary
-
Keith McNally' 6 favorite books that have ambitious charactersFeature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assaultSpeed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pantsSpeed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second comingSpeed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender firstSpeed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreedSpeed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrationsSpeed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at AnfieldSpeed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady
