Well, we all know who is going to win the Team of the Year award at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2019. England’s Cricket World Cup-winning team are going to make a pretty easy clean sweep of that honour. It’s not going to be topped. But who is going to get the top individual award? After some heavy backing, could it be Ben Stokes?
SPOTY 2019 Winner Odds*
Ben Stokes 13/8
Lewis Hamilton 13/2
Dina Asher-Smith 12/1
Raheem Sterling 7/1
Joe Root 10/1
Geraint Thomas 14/1
Eoin Morgan 16/1
20/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 15th, 2019 at 12:30 pm)
Stokes new SPOTY 2019 favourite
Ben Stokes played a huge part in England just about getting over the line to the title at Lord’s on Sunday against New Zealand in the World Cup final. A flood of betting came in the following day for Stokes for this year’s SPOTY title.
Stokes was chopped from 28/1 down to 2/1 in the Sports Personality of the Year betting market, making him an outright favourite.
He is currently 13/8 at Betfair to get the honour* (betting odds taken from betfair on July 15th, 2019 at 12:30 pm)
Stokes pulled off a remarkable catch in England’s opening game of the tournament against South Africa which was on May 30th. Fast forward to July 14th and there was Stokes again, front and centre for his country. England were struggling in their run chase against the Kiwis on a slow, difficult pitch, but in a partnership with Jos Buttler, Stokes helps haul England back into contention.
Stokes rescues England
As the tail end of the batting line up couldn’t stick around, Stokes did. He drove them to their runs in their final over to tie up the match. The all rounder was straight back out for the Super Over as well in one of the great heroic sporting efforts of a generation. Stokes was dead on his feet at the end of the match following a long tournament and tons of pressure on him during that run chase. He handled it.
If England get the team award, which they most likely will, then Stokes should get the individual award. It’s part and parcel of the same thing. The flurry of action on him took him above the previous favourite Lewis Hamilton (13/2). Track star Dina Asher-Smith at 12/1 and Raheem Sterling at 11/1* (betting odds taken from betfair on July 15th, 2019 at 12:30 pm)
