Ben Stokes takes Virat Kohli's crown as the world's leading cricketer

England all-rounder wins Wisden honour after 'force of nature' performances

Ben Stokes is the ultimate competitor. He almost single-handedly won the Headingley Test for England against Australia last summer. PA

Ben Stokes made an unbeaten 84 and guided England to a thrilling super over win over New Zealand at the 2019 World Cup final in London. PA

Ben Stokes topped his World Cup final effort with a sensational 135 not out that handed England an unlikely one-wicket win in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley. PA

Ben Stokes was named man of the match for his performance in the thrilling win over New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final. AFP

Ben Stokes poses with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in Aberdeen. PA

Ben Stokes won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award following a brilliant World Cup and Ashes for England. PA

Nicola Adams, right, and Lizzy Yarnold present Eoin Morgan, second left, the Moment of the Year award. PA

Ben Stokes had a great year in ODI and Test cricket. PA

Ben Stokes's catch to dismiss South Africa's Andile Phehlukwayo at the 2019 World Cup was one of the best catches ever taken. AFP

Eoin Morgan, second left, on stage after England receive the Team of the Year and Moment of the Year awards along side Jason Roy, centre, and Ben Stokes in Aberdeen. PA

Ben Stokes and wife Clare Ratcliffe during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Aberdeen. PA

Eoin Morgan, left, Jason Roy, second left, Ben Stokes, second right, and Gary Lineker. PA

Ben Stokes has unseated Virat Kohli as the leading cricketer in the world, ending the India captain's three-year reign.

The Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2020, published on Thursday, crowns Stokes as the sport's pre-eminent player - the first Englishman to receive the prestigious honour since Andrew Flintoff in 2005.

The award is the latest to be bestowed upon the 28-year-old all-rounder following his heroic exploits last summer, when he inspired his team to an unforgettable triumph in the World Cup before producing one of the greatest innings of all time to win the Ashes Test at Headingley.

Stokes' other recent gongs include the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December and the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for ICC men's player of the year, but acclaim from the famous 'yellow book' has always held a special place in cricketing culture.

Editor Lawrence Booth said: "Ben Stokes pulled off the performance of a lifetime - twice in the space of a few weeks.

"First, with a mixture of outrageous talent and good fortune, he rescued England's run-chase in the World Cup final, before helping to hit 15 off the super over.

"Then, in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, he produced one of the great innings, smashing an unbeaten 135 to pinch a one-wicket win. Against red ball or white, he was a force of nature."

Wisden also revealed their five cricketers of the year, led by Stokes' World Cup-winning teammate Jofra Archer.

The award can only be won once, ruling out all of those who have already had their moment, and is based primarily on performances during the English summer.

Archer was a certainty to make the list, having had a seismic impact since his long-awaited international bow in May.

He instantly became a first-choice player in an England one-day side which had otherwise been carefully moulded over the course of four years and, by the time the Lord's finale came down to its last six deliveries, it was the Barbados-born paceman who stood up to be counted by sending down the super over.

He was just as important to the Ashes, bowling at lightning speed on Test debut in a duel with Steve Smith that will live long in the memory.

Of the remaining order, three are Australian with nods for Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne and Ellyse Perry - who also reclaimed the leading women's cricketer in the world title from Smriti Mandhana.

Cummins, currently ranked as the world's number one Test bowler by the ICC, was a dominant force as Australia retained the Ashes urn in a 2-2 series draw, taking 29 wickets at 19.62. He also contributed 14 wickets to his country's unsuccessful World Cup defence.

Labuschagne would have been considered a long shot for such recognition at the start of the summer but went from strength to strength after becoming international cricket's first concussion substitute after the brutal conclusion to Archer versus Smith.

He went on to average more than 50 and has gone from backup player to No 3 batsman in the Test standings.