Sophie Ecclestone Named Among Wisden’s Five Cricketers Of The Year For 2025
England's star spinner receives prestigious cricket honor ahead of what she calls 'big year.'
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England cricket star Sophie Ecclestone has expressed her delight at being named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year for 2025, describing it as an “honour” in her recent Instagram announcement.
The world-class left-arm spinner shared the prestigious news with her followers, posting: “Honour to be named one of the five wisden cricketers 2025 ✨ Big year ahead 🤟🏼.”
Historic Achievement For Lancashire
This recognition marks a significant milestone not just for Ecclestone personally, but also for her county team. As confirmed by Lancashire Cricket’s social media, Ecclestone has become the first female player from Lancashire to receive this honor, joining a prestigious list of 36 players from the county to be recognized by cricket’s most prestigious almanack.
Lancashire Cricket celebrated her achievement, posting: “Congratulations @sophecc19 on being named one of @wisden_cricket’s five cricketers of the year! 🏆🐐 There are now 36 players from Lancashire to receive this special honour, with Sophie being the first female player from Lancashire to do so.”
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year is one of the game’s oldest and most prestigious awards, dating back to 1889, with the selections made by the editor of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
Ecclestone’s Remarkable Rise
At just 25 years old, Ecclestone has established herself as one of the premier bowlers in women’s cricket. She made her international debut for England in 2016 when she was just 17, making her the youngest player to represent England since Holly Colvin in 2005.
Her career has been marked by consistent excellence, becoming the youngest woman to take 50 wickets in Women’s Twenty20 International matches and reaching the number one spot in the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings in 2020 – a position she has maintained for extended periods.
Busy Season With Up Warriorz
The recognition comes after Ecclestone recently completed her third season with UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India. She has been a key player for the franchise since its inception, bringing her world-class bowling skills to the competition.
In March, she reflected on her time with the team, posting: “3️⃣ seasons in yellow and purple ✅ thank you for some incredible memories @upwarriorz 💜💛 until next time 👊🏼.” Her performances have been crucial for the team, including a memorable super-over victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore during this season’s campaign.
The UP Warriorz also confirmed earlier this year that Ecclestone would be returning for a fifth season with the team, demonstrating her value to the franchise.
Relaxation Before England’s Summer Schedule
Following her commitments in the WPL, Ecclestone took some time to recharge before what promises to be a demanding English summer schedule. In April, she shared photos from a countryside retreat, writing: “The most amazing getaway 😍 thank you so much @cardenpark for having me! Some well needed R&R before a busy English summer! 🏴 Nothing beats waking up to the beautiful Cheshire countryside! No place better than home 🏡❤️.”
This period of rest appears to have been strategic, with Ecclestone mentioning a “big year ahead” in her Wisden announcement post – suggesting she has significant cricket commitments on the horizon for both England and her various franchise teams.
Media Presence And Profile
Ecclestone’s rising profile in cricket has also led to increased media opportunities. Last year, she featured as a cover star for Sky Sports, participating in their “Sky Sports Editions” series. She shared the experience with her followers, writing: “Cover star mode: Activated 📸 Introducing the Sophie Ecclestone Edition, the latest episode of #SkySportsEditions ✨.”
The feature showcased the personality behind the player, exploring her interests off the field including “dancing dunks, Everton FC and bowling you all over in pink of course.”
The Wisden recognition adds another prestigious accolade to Ecclestone’s growing collection and further establishes her as one of the leading figures in women’s cricket globally. With the women’s game continuing to grow in popularity and profile, Ecclestone’s achievements represent not just personal success but contribute to the ongoing development of the sport.
As she looks ahead to what she describes as a “big year,” cricket fans will be eagerly watching to see what further milestones this talented spinner can achieve.
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