wisdon karandak

THE WISDEN TROPHY


John Wisden & Co, the proprietors of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, donated the Wisden Trophy in 1963 to mark the Almanack’s 100th edition (the first one was published in 1864), and it has been at stake in every England–West Indies Test series since. Frank Worrell guided his team to victory over Ted Dexter’s England in 1963, ensuring that West Indies were the first holders of the Wisden Trophy. England briefly wrested it back in 1967-68, but when Rohan Kanhai’s side won the 1973 series, a long period of West Indian dominance began.

It wasn’t until September 2000, after 13 unsuccessful series, that England, under Nasser Hussain, ended a long and painful run. The flow of irresistible Caribbean fast bowlers had dried to a trickle, and at long last it was England’s turn on top. The scenes of jubilation that late-summer afternoon at The Oval revealed how much the Wisden Trophy meant.


After that England won three further series, and held on to the Wisden Trophy for eight and a half years until they lost it in 2008-09 in the Caribbean.

Normally, once the Wisden Trophy has been relinquished, it has proved a tricky job to reclaim it: prior to 2009 the trophy had only changed hands on three occasions. However, in May 2009, less than 10 weeks after losing it, England won the trophy back with a comprehensive 2-0 home series victory.

The Wisden Trophy usually resides in the Lord’s Museum, where it is on permanent display beside the Ashes.