Tyson Fury and Ben Stokes make Autobiography of the Year shortlist

England cricket hero Ben Stokes and boxer Tyson Fury are among the sports stars shortlisted for the Autobiography of the Year prize in the Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2020.

Fury is nominated for his “unflinching” Behind the Mask (Century), while Stokes is in the running for On Fire (Headline), which tells the tale of England's Cricket World Cup triumph, as well as last year’s momentous Ashes Test series.

Stokes said: “I’m delighted to be shortlisted for the Autobiography Award at the 2020 Telegraph Sports Book of the Year Awards and in such fantastic company.”

Stokes’ England colleague James Anderson also makes the shortlist for the first time with Bowl. Sleep. Repeat (Octopus) where he opens up on his thoughts on some of the biggest issues in the game today.

Ex-England women's football player Eniola Aluko’s They Don't Teach This (Yellow Jersey) also makes the shortlist, exploring themes of dual nationality and identity, race and institutional prejudice, failure and success.

Elsewhere, ex-England striker Michael Owen is chosen for this “brutally honest” Reboot (Reach Sport), while former team mate Emile Heskey is also shortlisted for the “compelling” Even Heskey Scored (Pitch Publishing).

Completing the shortlist is Jason Plato’s How Not to be a Professional Racing Driver (Michael Joseph), billed as a “no-holds-barred account of his stellar career and occasionally riotous personal life”.

The awards are judged by a group of sports celebrities, broadcasters and journalists including Louise Minchin, Christine Ohuruogu, Sir Tim Rice, Brian Moore, Darren Gough and the Football Writers Association.

The full shortlists for the awards will be announced on 17th June, revealing the shortlistees for the remaining nine categories, including the inaugural Children’s Sports Book of the Year.

All category winners, including the Autobiography of the Year, will be announced at a digital ceremony on 15th July.