Ben Stokes 1-5 favourite in Sports Personality of the Year shortlist

Ben Stokes is the 1-5 favourite for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after a shortlist of six nominees was drawn up for the awards set to take place on December 15.

The England cricketer helped his nation to win their first ever one-day international World Cup before firing an eye-watering 135 not out to secure the third Test of the Ashes against Australia at Headingley.

Dina Asher-Smith, the first woman to win a major global sprint title with her world 200m gold, is second in the betting at 9-1.

The shortlist also features Raheem Sterling (18-1), who won the domestic treble with Manchester City this year and Formula One champion for the sixth time Lewis Hamilton (28-1).

Wales captain and Six Nations player of the championship Alun Wyn Jones (33-1) and Katarina Johnson-Thompson (50-1), who won the heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships, complete the six-name list.

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