THE BBC Sports Personality of the Year award could go to a Cumbria raised superstar after it was confirmed Ben Stokes is the hot favourite to take the crown.
The cricketing ace, who grew up in Cockermouth and played much of his youth cricket in the county, has been quoted as low as 1/6 to win the award after a year of heroics.
Stokes has won the hearts of the sport loving public after his match winning knocks both in England’s World Cup final super-over victory over New Zealand and later in the dramatic Third Test victory against Australia at Headingley.
He is up against footballer Raheem Sterling, Fornula One champion Lewis Hamilton, Welsh rugby union star Alun Wyn Jones and athletes Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson who are the other names on the six-strong shortlist.
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