Mary Earps and Stuart Broad lead list of BBC Sports Personality of the Year contenders as shortlist announced

Earps could become the second Lionesses star to claim the award after Beth Mead scooped the prize 12 months ago.

The Manchester United goalkeeper faces strong competition from Broad, however, who made the cut after impressing for England during the summer's Ashes series.

The cricket icon took the last two Australia wickets in his final Test match.

As a result, England were able to level the series and draw 2-2 after initially training 2-0 earlier in the summer.

Frankie Dettori, who recently appeared in ITV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, also features on the shortlist.

Rory McIlroy makes the cut, too, after playing a key role as Team Europe won the Ryder Cup.

And wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett has made the list as well, while Katarina Johnson-Thompson is in the running after a strong year in athletics.

The winner of the prize will be announced on December 19.

And whoever is voted as the winner by the general public will become the 70th sportsperson to secure the accolade.

If Earps wins as expected, she'll become the third woman in as many years to come out on top.

Mead was voted as last year's victor after starring as England won the European Championships.

And Emma Raducanu won the gong in 2021, having won the US Open in tennis - defying all odds and expectations in the process.

Rather surprisingly, Josh Kerr has been omitted from the shortlist.

The 26-year-old stunned Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win 1500m gold at the World Athletics earlier in the year.

His victory saw him emulate British team-mate Jake Wightman, who was nominated last year.

But organisers have been unable to include Kerr, opting to go with six other British athletes instead.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is another notable absentee.

And so too is Jude Bellingham, who has dazzled for Real Madrid since joining from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer.

Regarding Earps, her England goalkeeper's shirt sold out in just five minutes on Monday.

Despite costing £85, supporters purchased all available jerseys sporting her name.

A petition had previously been started to ensure Nike sell the jerseys after failing to do so earlier in the year.

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Earps has made 47 appearances for England, having first made her debut all the way back in 2017.