Anya Shrubsole to become first woman on the cover of Wisden

Shrubsole's six for 46, which included five wickets in 19 balls, brought England back from the brink of defeat as they edged out India in the final of last summer's World Cup

Anya Shrubsole was awarded an MBE at the end of 2017 (Getty)

Anya Shrubsole will be the first woman to appear on the front cover of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack to commemorate England's World Cup win on home soil last year.

Shrubsole hit the winning runs in a tense semi-final victory over South Africa before her six for 46, which included five wickets in 19 balls, brought England back from the brink of defeat as they edged out India in the Lord's showpiece last July.

The Somerset fast bowler's efforts have already been recognised with an MBE and she was nominated for last month's BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, in which she finished ninth in the voting.

Shrubsole helped inspire England to World Cup victory last year (Adrian Dennis/AFP)

The 26-year-old has been honoured further as a photo of her holding the World Cup trophy will grace the famous yellow jacket of the 155th edition of the Almanack, which has been published every year since 1864.

Shrubsole said: "It's an amazing honour and privilege to be on the cover of Wisden. 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."

This year's Almanack, a comprehensive chronicling of the past 12 months, will be published on April 12.

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth added: "Anya Shrubsole was a natural for this year's Wisden cover, having stolen the show on the most memorable day of the 2017 summer. 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."

PA