Moeen Ali's rise to prominence touched new heights with the news that he would be the cover star of this year's Wisden Almanack, and the all-rounder plans on remaining front and centre in England's World Cup campaign.

Promotional shots released in the last few days show Moeen gracing the famous tome, arms outstretched in celebration during his name-making summer of 2014.

Wisden, of course, is no ordinary book and since introducing picture covers in 2003, it has kept fittingly vaunted company.

Established A-listers including Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Andrew Flintoff, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Strauss have all had their moment, while last year's pick was the most prolific batsman in the history of the sport, the retiring Sachin Tendulkar.

Big boots to fill for a 27-year-old who played his first game of international cricket last February, but an indication of the stirring impact Moeen made on English cricket in the past 12 months.

A batsman with wonderful range across all three formats, a spinner who is emerging from Graeme Swann's shadow with every match and - somewhat reluctantly - a cultural touchstone for British Muslims in the sport.

He is keen for the latter point not to overtake the first two, and is equally diffident when it comes to discussing the nod from Wisden.

"It's obviously a very prestigious book and it's an honour to be on the front," he said as England enjoyed a day off in Perth.

"I didn't really know who was on there before until someone sent me a list, so it's nice to know.

"I have got a couple of copies from the past and my Dad's definitely going to be getting a copy of the new one!"

Moeen has not lingered on the significance of taking over from the great Tendulkar, and is already casting his mind to future achievements rather than past glories.

"I don't see it like that (replacing Tendulkar), I just see it as an honour to be on the 2015 cover," he said.

"It's been a really good year for me, but it's gone quickly and hopefully I have a lot more good years."

Moeen has already proved an adaptable cricketer, initially selected by Ashley Giles to add a new dimension to England's Twenty20 side but quickly showing enough cricket nous to earn a Test nod from Giles' successor Peter Moores.

He chiselled out a defiant maiden century against Sri Lanka at Headingley, and in the following series against India harvested 19 wickets in a winning cause.

Now, after just 15 one-day international caps, he is a key figure as England attempt to claim a first World Cup success in Australia and New Zealand.

The early signs Down Under are that Moeen has progressed well enough with the ball to be a front-line spinner, allowing space for a resurgent Steven Finn in place of James Tredwell.

"I've started off quite well with the ball, just to keep it simple," he said.

"If I bowl flight to some of these guys they'll murder it so I try not to give too much air.

"When the conditions are right with a bit of 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...if I bowl 10 overs every game I'll be bowling all right."

But it is Moeen's opening partnership with Ian Bell that has really breathed new life into England's 50-over side.

The pair have dovetailed neatly at short notice since Alastair Cook's dropping and their stand of 113 against Australia last week in Hobart was England's first three-figure opening partnership for two years.

"Belly's one of the best I've played with, one of the classiest," said Moeen.

"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 to open together."