Stokes scoops the top prize...
BEN STOKES crowned a remarkable year for himself and English cricket when he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year last night. The all-rounder was recognised for his dual achievements in a glorious summer of guiding England to their first-ever World Cup win in an extraordinary super-over victory against New Zealand at Lord’s, as well as his incredible innings to inspire the Test side to their best ever run-chase in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley. Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton came second, with world 200 metres champion Dina Asher-Smith third. Stokes was given permission to miss the start of England’s tour of South Africa to attend last night’s ceremony in Aberdeen, leaving his team-mates to watch from their hotel in Johannesburg. Stokes’ triumph caps a dramatic transformation in his public image coming just 12 months after he was fined £30,000 and given a backdated eight-match ban for his part in a fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017.
That incident led to Stokes being charged with affray. He was found not guilty at Bristol Crown Court, but suspended by the ECB and stripped of the vice-captaincy at the start of that process, although reinstated to his position as Joe Root’s understudy before last summer’s Ashes series. An emotional Stokes referred to those tribulations when accepting the award, thanking his team-mates and wife Clare for helping him through a difficult period. ‘Two years ago was a tough time for me and my life,’ he said. ‘I’ve had so many people help me through it. ‘You are a rock. You always have been and always will be.’ Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir was given the Helen Rollason Award for raising almost £5million for research into motor neurone disease. The 49-year-old was diagnosed with MND in 2016 and launched his own foundation the following year. ‘Being a Scottish rugby player in the 1990s, this is the closest I’ve got to a trophy,’ he said. ‘It’s a great Christmas present to raise awareness of MND.’