The shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Jenson Button of Great Britain and Brawn GP prepares to drive during practice for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 2, 2009 in Suzuka, Japan. Photograph: Mark Thompson/guardian.co.uk

Mark Cavendish of Great Britain (C) sprints on the finish line on July 24, 2009 at the end of the 195 km and nineteenth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Bourgoin-Jallieu and Aubenas. Photograph: Pascal Pavani/guardian.co.uk

Thomas Daley and Max Brick of Great Britain compete in the Men's 10m Synchro Platform Final during the 13th FINA World Championships at the Stadio del Nuoto on July 25, 2009 in Rome, Italy. Photograph: Lars Baron/guardian.co.uk

Great Britain's Jessica Ennis competing in the 100m hurdles of the Heptathlon Photograph: Tony Marshall/guardian.co.uk

Manchester United's Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs celebrates scoring the equalising goal against Celtic during their UEFA Champions League Group E football match at Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, on November 5, 2008. Photograph: Paul Ellis/guardian.co.uk

England's David Haye (right) lands a right hand to Russia's Nikolai Valuev during the WBA World Heavyweight Title bout at the Nuremberg Arena, Germany, Saturday Nov. 7, 2009. Photograph: Nick Potts/guardian.co.uk

Great Britain's Phillips Idowu competes during the men's triple jump final of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships on August 18, 2009 in Berlin. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/guardian.co.uk

Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco in the round robin Group A Match. Multiple exposure of Murray serving. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Andrew Strauss of England lifts the Ashes urn after day four of the npower 5th Ashes Test Match between England and Australia at The Brit Oval on August 23, 2009 in London, England. Photograph: Tom Shaw/guardian.co.uk

Beth Tweddle performs in the women's floor event during the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2009 at the 02 Arena, in east London, on October 14, 2009. Photograph: Carl De Souza/guardian.co.uk