Alastair Cook enjoyed the perfect ending to his Test match career earlier this week and the now former England captain and opener is only a best 12/1 in revised betting for the 2018 Sports Personality of The Year.
Cook scored his 33rd Test century in his last-ever international match in the Fifth Test defeat of the world’s number one side India at the Kia Oval and also witnessed his best friend Jimmy Anderson become the most successful fast bowler of all time in Test cricket with the last of India’s second innings wickets.
The Chef is currently clear fourth favourite for the prestigious end-of-year award but would probably treat that news with the same humility and grace with which he’s conducted his cricket career. Few in the game have a bad word about Cook, who will continue playing for Essex for the next three years but will also spend more time on his farm with family.
Jimmy Anderson is a lot more outspoken than his best mate but is well on the way to becoming a legend in the game and continues to terrorise the world’s best batsmen with ball in hand. The Lancashire pace bowler is 66/1 to win SPOTY with a few bookmakers.
Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas remains favourite for the award after his brilliant-but-unexpected success in this year’s Tour de France. He is still available at 7/4 with BetVictor but this could be one of the closest-run polls for many years. England’s football captain Harry Kane, winner of the Golden Boot at this year’s World Cup, is 5/2 with Betway but no footballer has won since Ryan Giggs in 2009. Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who won three gold medals at the European Championships, is 10/1 with Coral. Lewis Hamilton is on course to win yet another F1 World Drivers’ Championship but can be backed at 20/1 to win SPOTY for a second time.
Sports Personality Of The Year Current Best Odds
Geraint Thomas 7/4
Harry Kane 5/2
Dina Asher-Smith 10/1
Alastair Cook 12/1
Lewis Hamilton 20/1
Anthomy Joshua 25/1
Lizzie Yarnold 40/1
Adam Peaty 50/1
Mark Williams 50/1
Jonathan Rea 50/1
Rory McIlroy 50/1
Tyson Fury 66/1
Jimmy Anderson 66/1
Justin Rose 66/1
Tommy Fleetwood 66/1
Laura Kenny 80/1
(Odds Correct at 1.30pm September 12)
