Sports Personality Of The Year 2013: Ranking The Big Contenders

5. Ian Bell England batsman Ian Bell was the stand out performer from this summer's Ashes win over Australia on home turf, having notched up 562 runs across the five tests, shadowing Shane Watson's 418. Bell is currently in the process of trying to retain the urn down under, but despite a disappointing first test last week, Bell is likely to be in contention to retain his player of the series award if the test itself may prove to be a bigger ask than first thought. The next three weeks could shape Bell's placing for Sports Personality of the Year, as of course it is based on the whole of 2013, but you can't take his impressive summer away from him and must be in with a shout of a top three place. On the plus side, he stands a strong chance at winning the team of the year award, so there could be more silverware on its way for Bell.