SPOTY Odds: Latest Ben Stokes odds for 2022 award after T20 World Cup triumph
The inspirational performances of Ben Stokes en route to England’s stunning T20 World Cup triumph have propelled the cricketer into the conversation for Sports Personality of the Year.
With the SPOTY victor crowned on Wednesday 21st December, we’ve analysed the latest movements in the odds market and looked at what it could mean for Stokes.
Ben Stokes fired into the mix
Ben Stokes is already a legendary figure in English sport.
The 31-year-old’s career has been crammed full to the brim of pulsating, match-winning, goosebump moments. From his dramatic ODI World Cup heroics, to his spectacular 135 not out at Headingly in the Ashes, and now his 52 not out in England’s triumph over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday.
Last week Stokes was hovering on the outskirts of the SPOTY betting at 66/1 - one firm even had him at 200/1 - but now he’s come into 12/1 to win the annual award, although he can still be backed at 20/1 with bet365.
Stokes, the all-rounder who thrives in high-pressure sporting environments, did of course win the accolade three years ago in 2019 following his aforementioned World Cup success and Ashes heroics.
If Stokes does triumph again he’d become one of only six sports stars to receive multiple SPOTY awards; alongside Lewis Hamilton, Nigel Mansell, Henry Cooper, and Damon Hill (all two-time winners); and Andy Murray who holds the record with three successes.
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Beth Mead remains the favourite
Ben Stokes may be the big mover in the market, yet it's Beth Mead who remains the odds-on favourite to take home the prize, at just 1/4 in the betting.
Mead has enjoyed a sensational year during which she was the top scorer and player of the tournament at last summer's Euro 2022, which the Lionesses memorably won for the first time.
Then last week the Arsenal star won the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year Award following a public vote.
Last 10 SPOTY Winners
2012 - Bradley Wiggins
2013 - Andy Murray
2014 - Lewis Hamilton
2015 - Andy Murray
2016 - Andy Murray
2017 - Mo Farah
2018 - Geraint Thomas
2019 - Ben Stokes
2020 - Lewis Hamilton
2021 - Emma Raducanu
Who else is in the mix for SPOTY?
Beth Mead's only challenger right now, according to the betting, is Harry Kane who is a distant 12/1.
This is dependent on one factor: if the England skipper leads his country to World Cup glory this winter, with The Three Lions priced at 10/1 to win in Qatar.
Should Kane achieve this goal, expect his odds to be slashed on the spot. However, it's difficult to see the striker challenging Mead should England fall short.
Elsewhere, former frontrunner Ronnie O’Sullivan - who won his seventh World Championship snooker title back in May - has drifted to 18/1, with boxing champ Tyson Fury and another Lionesses star in Chloe Kelly out at 33/1 and 66/1 respectively.
The winner will be crowned on Wednesday 21st December.
