Cavendish leads award list but no place for Matthew

Cavendish became the first British winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France after five stage victories, and was also crowned road race world champion.

Clarke, now 43, won his first major title at the age of 42 with a brilliant performance in the Open at Sandwich, the Ulsterman following in the footsteps of compatriot Rory McIlroy who had secured a record-breaking eight-shot triumph in the US Open the previous month.

Also on the 10-strong shortlist are world No 1 Luke Donald, world champions Mo Farah (5,000m) and Dai Greene (400m hurdles) and England cricketers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.

Boxer Amir Khan and tennis star Andy Murray complete the nominees.

Among those to be justifiably disappointed at not making the list will be Sheffield squash player Nick Matthew, who spent the entire year as world No1 and became the first man since 1996 to retain the World Open title, when he defeated Greg Gaultier in Rotterdam earlier this month.

The winner will be announced in a live event at MediaCityUK, Salford on December 22.