Moeen Ali says it is "an honour" for his picture to be chosen to be included on the cover of the 2015 edition of the Wisden Almanack.
The Worcestershire and England all-rounder, who had still to make his full international debut 12 months ago, has followed in the footsteps of the great Sachin Tendulkar in being on the front of cricket's 'bible.'
Moeen is now a regular for his country in all formats of the game and has been a role model for British Muslims.
The 27-year-old said: "The year has gone very quickly. It’s been a really good year and hopefully there will be a few more for me with the England team.
"Somebody sent me the Wisden picture and it’s really nice. It’s an honour to be on the front of it. It's obviously a very prestigious book.
"I didn't really know who was on there before until someone sent me a list, so it's nice to know.
"I don't see it like that (replacing Tendulkar). I just see it as an honour to be on the 2015 cover.
"I have a couple of copies from the past and my dad’s definitely going to get the new one."
Moeen has played every Test match since making his debut in the long version of the game against Sri Lanka last summer.
Now he is also a key part of the 50 over side currently in action in the Tri-Series in Australia before the World Cup gets underway next month.
Moeen hit his maiden ODI century in Sri Lanka before Christmas and figured in a century stand against Australia in Hobart on Friday with Ian Bell.
He said: "I don’t think I played that well in Hobart. I struggled a bit early on but because Belly was going so well I didn’t have to do anything stupid, even though I did in the end.
"I didn’t have rhythm and I tried to force it a bit. Belly said 'it’ll come, it’ll come' but I gave it away and hopefully I can learn from it.
"Belly's one of the best I've played with, one of the classiest. The way he is batting at the minute, in the nets and everything, is unbelievable to be honest.
"He doesn't score ugly runs and he's very good to bat with. In an ideal world we want to go on longer together and I think we will as we get more opportunities."
Moeen appears to also now be England's first choice spinner with James Tredwell left out in Hobart.
He said: "I've started off quite well with the ball, trying not to go for too many runs.
"If I bowl flight to these guys they’ll murder it so I try not to give too much air. But when conditions are right with a bit more spin, I’ll look to attack a bit more.
"We've not come across one like that yet so, for me, it's about bowling dots for the team and trying not to go for boundaries.
"I'm trying just to stay on as well and if I bowl 10 overs every game, I'll be bowling all right."
