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Ian Bell nominated for BBC Sports Personality Of The Year

Warwickshire and England batsman up against Andy Murray, Justin Rose and Chris Froome on shortlist of 10 for annual award

Warwickshire and England batsman Ian Bell (Image: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire.)

Warwickshire and England cricketer Ian Bell is among the nominees for this year's BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.

Coventry-born Bell, aged 31, played a starring role in England's successful Ashes series against Australia during the summer, ending up as the series top scorer with 562 runs.

He also scored three centuries in consecutive Test Matches as England beat the visitors 3-0 in the series.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, US Open winner Justin Rose, Tour de France title-holder Chris Froome and record-breaking jockey Tony McCoy are also featured in the list of nominees.

Sailor Ben Ainslie, athletes Mo Farah and Christine Ohuruogu, wheelchair athlete Hannah Cockcroft and rugby union’s Leigh Halfpenny make up the ten-strong shortlist for the annual award.

Murray will probably start as the favourite after he ended Great Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles title at Wimbledon by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets, having previously lost to his opponent in the Australian Open final.

The Scot finished third in the BBC poll last year behind the winner Sir Bradley Wiggins and Jessica Ennis and if successful would become the fourth tennis player to win the award and the first since Greg Rusedski beat Tim Henman to the title in 1997.

However, he faces strong competition from some of the other front-runners.