Spin King Swann’s Ashes antics could see him snare SPOTY award

Sir Bradley Wiggins picked up the much-deserved Sports Personality gong last year as the shortlist was unsurprisingly dominated by Britain’s Olympic heroes.

However, 2013 looks set to be a much more open affair with athletics likely to take a back-seat.

The Ashes is set to draw the most attention from the sporting public throughout the summer months with the absence of a major football tournament to enjoy.

Bearing this in mind, Graeme Swann looks fantastic value at 66/1 to become only the second cricketer in 32 years to be crowned SPOTY, following Andrew Flintoff’s success in 2005.

The likeable spin bowler took 14 wickets the last time the Aussies arrived on English soil and racked up an impressive 249 runs, making him the hosts’ fourth most productive batsman.

Swann also performed well in Australia in the 2010/11 series, as his 15 wickets and a batting average of 39.80 played a vital role in a 3-1 victory to retain the urn.

Cycling has been the dominant force over the last two years with Wiggins and Mark Cavendish scoring the title in succession.

The former’s Tour de France win along with his impressive display in London increased the nation’s seemingly endless love affair with the sport, making Chris Froome an interesting proposition at 7/1.

The Brit assisted Wiggins nobly in 2012 but roles are set to be reversed this time out and if Froome and his Team Sky comrades can make it consecutive British Yellow Jersey winners, he is sure to win his place in the public’s hearts.

Andy Murray was rewarded for a remarkable 2012, in which he became the first British grand slam winner for 76 years, with a third place finish.

In any other year the world’s number two tennis player would undoubtedly have secured first prize.

He is likely to be challenging in the latter stages of grand slams once again, and if he can secure that elusive Wimbledon title and reach the top of the world standings he is sure to garner much attention, so taking a price of 7/4 looks appealing here.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date