Stokes to skip tour match for SPOTY

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BEN STOKES will miss the first match of England’s tour of South Africa next month to attend the Sports Personality of the Year awards. The all-rounder will fly out late and will not be available for the opening match against a South African Invitational XI in Benoni. Stokes, 28, is the hot favourite to win the BBC award in Aberdeen on December 15 after his World Cup-winning heroics and extraordinary unbeaten century to win the third Ashes Test at Headingley. World Championship-winning athletes Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson, as well as England forward Raheem Sterling, are also on the shortlist of six. But such is the expectation Stokes will be crowned Sports Personality of the Year that the ECB have taken the bold decision to let him skip a match. They view the awards night as a great opportunity to promote cricket to a massive terrestrial TV audience ahead of launching the Hundred next year, some of which will be shown on the BBC. Coach Chris Silverwood and captain Joe Root endorsed the move.

IF HE had not put his case to win SPOTY clearly enough with one imperishable act of ingenuity and daring, he just went and did it again. We wondered if anything could beat his nerveless batting in the heart-stopping final moments of the World Cup in front of a transfixed nation. But, those memories still fresh, his 135 not out at Headingley to keep the Ashes alive in one of history’s great, see-sawing Test matches at least pushed it close, while Jack Leach cleaned his glasses at the other end. This master of the high-wire act is my choice for SPOTY.