Wisden hails five-star England

If English cricket needed any further evidence that it has been restored to the rudest of health, then it came today in the familiar shape of the cricket lovers' bible.

For the first time in 45 years, all five Wisden Cricketers of the Year are English.

The 2005 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack honours Ashley Giles, Steve Harmison, Robert Key, Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick based on their performances during last year's English season.

To put it in perspective, on three occasions between 1996 and 2002, England failed to lodge a single representative in the yellow book's hall of fame.

But last year, in which they won 11 of their 13 Test matches and remained unbeaten, they finally gelled into a settled and efficient unit. Giles is chosen for his metamorphosis from 'wheelie bin' to serious international spinner, Harmison for his annus mirabilis, Key for stockpiling runs with renewed vigour, Strauss for the best debut Test year by an Englishman since Ian Botham and Trescothick for his fearless if fallible strokeplay.

However, Wisden's newest accolade, the Leading Cricketer of the Year, was won by Shane Warne, although Andrew Flintoff must have run the champion leg-spinner very close.

"At the start of 2004, Australia were wobbling a little but by the end they were as dominant as ever," writes editor Matthew Engel in the 142nd edition of Wisden. "The biggest difference was the return of Warne."