WILL KELLEHER IN TOKYO: Warren Gatland joked Wales would rather play a drinking game against New Zealand than play the third-fourth playoff - but says his squad will be motivated to beat them.

The BBC unveiled their six-strong shortlist for this year's Sports Personality of the Year on Monday. The public will vote on December 15 with the winner crowned in Aberdeen that night.

OLIVER HOLT: Ben Stokes stopped the sporting world last year with two magical moments. There are six credible SPOTY candidates, but Stokes would get my vote.

Australia may have retained the urn but couldn't do enough to win the 2019 Ashes series as England clinched a 135-run fifth Test victory to level the scores.

RICHARD GIBSON: As the ghost writer of a soon-to-be-published memoir of Ben Stokes' summer, I have been given the privilege of re-living these momentous events through his eyes.

Stokes struck an unbeaten 84 in the final against New Zealand on the way to England's maiden World Cup title and then crashed a barely-believable 135 not out to keep the Ashes alive at Headingley.

The Ashes star was seen with his hand in wife Clare Stokes' face at the Professional Cricketers' Association Awards Anniversary party in London last Wednesday.

England's top cricketer was seen with his hand on Clare Stokes's face at the Professional Cricketers' Association party in London last Wednesday.

Stokes has enjoyed an unforgettable year, playing a starring role in the historic World Cup victory at Lord's then producing one of Test cricket's greatest ever innings in the Third Ashes Test.

Ben Stokes has revealed being sledged relentlessly by David Warner was the motivation behind his stunning match-winning century against Australia at Headingley in August.

In the first of our series looking back at the greatest moments of the sporting year, we reflect on Ben Stokes's incredible innings in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.

With another year's end came another installment of SPOTY, as England cricket star Ben Stokes picked up the honour. Sportsmail went behind the scenes to capture the special moments on reel.

Stokes' incredible performances in the World Cup, not least in the Lord's final, and his unforgettable match-winning century in the Ashes Test at Headingley saw him land the prestigious prize.

EXCLUSIVE BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: Stokes and Leach pulled off an incredible run chase at Headingley in 2019 by chasing more than they had ever managed to keep Ashes alive.

Ben Stokes is glued to the aftermath of his miracle at Headingley on television and, revealingly, finds his thoughts immediately turning to the opposition. 'I remember watching this in The Test,' says Stokes.

Stokes was due to be playing with Smith this month for the Rajasthan Royals but the IPL has been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 35-year-old singer joked about the age gap between she and her 70-year-old Canadian musician husband in some recent Twitter banter.

Kendall Jenner was spotted on a 'road trip' with her friend and NBA star Devin Booker during lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old actress cracked a joke about Lori Loughlin's prosecution in the college admissions scandal on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.

Reese Witherspoon, 43, gave some renowned parenting advice on how to communicate with kids. The actress took to her Instagram to share she has resorted to chatting with her kids on Snapchat.

Aaron Irvine, 19, a former pupil at fee paying Bedford Modern School dressed all in black and wore a balaclava and latex gloves during the assault at the girl's secluded home in Bedfordshire countryside.

Bobby Madley, a former Premier League referee who was sacked by PGMOL last year, has shared a very personal end of decade message on Twitter.

The video, which was posted to Snapchat , begins with a man in green shorts pulling the marsupial's head back and repeatedly smacking it in the face.

Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli has apologised to fans for posting a video to Snapchat appearing to mock an Asian man in relation to the coronavirus outbreak.

Gareth Bale poked fun at Aaron Ramsey's lack of game time in Wales' Euro 2020 qualifying campaign after his double against Hungary booked their spot at next year's tournament.

PETE JENSON IN MADRID: Gareth Bale was back in training for Real Madrid on the day Marca's front page accused him of being: 'irresponsible, wrong, ungrateful. In that order.'

On Wednesday night, Zinedine Zidane's side enjoyed a break from their arduous schedule by hitting the town and going out for a squad meal to celebrate Christmas.

He was forced off at half-time after an awkward landing having tripped over Hull's Daniel Batty and will miss the rest of the season before sitting out this summer's tournament in addition.

More younger people are investing thanks to the rise of the simple stocks and shares Isa - are they worried about recent market volatility? We find out.

Fury has returned to training and is intent on securing an all-British super-fight with the new champion and has revealed that Joshua's promoter Hearn has pencilled in a fight.

MARTIN SAMUEL: Tyson Fury is an outlier, a mould breaker, just as Usain Bolt was. And not only in terms of his antics, his charisma. And like Bolt, once he enters the vicinity it is hard to take your eyes off him.

David Beckham was sent off in the second-half of England's last 16 game with Argentina after kicking out at Diego Simeone. The Three Lions would go on to be knocked out by their rivals on penalties.

The threat was posted to 4Chan warning people to stay away from the Ritz Cinema in Randwick, in Sydney's east during screenings of the Warner Bros. film Joker.

Panthers, a sports club in Port Macquarie, New South Wales put up the sign in the wake of wild bushfires that have torn through Australia's east coast.

PETER HITCHENS: As I watched the Prime Minister order mass house arrest on Monday night, I felt revulsion, anger and grief - as anyone brought up when this was a free and well-governed...

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that senior staff at Britain's competition watchdog are pushing for an investigation over concerns that the two American firms have become too dominant.

Google is skipping its tradition of designing an April Fools' Day joke on its front page during the COVID-19 pandemic, out of respect for people working to help curb the spread of the disease.

It seems Victoria Beckham has evened the score between her and husband David, with her latest Instagram post.

London-born Konnie Huq, 44, who is best known for presenting Blue Peter from 1997 to 2008 and is married to Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror, shared snap of her son Hukley on Twitter.

After flaunting two new tattoos earlier this week, Ashley Benson spent the afternoon bundled up in a chic biker jacket for a shopping trip in New York City on Friday, which included Stella McCartney.

Max Lewis, six, came to his mother Nicky's rescue when she fell ill at their house in Stoke-on-Trent. He called his aunt, Sonia, to tell her his mother, 31, was 'breathing funny' and she called 999.

Viewers were left heartbroken following last night's powerful Channel 4 documentary NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives, which showed the realities for NHS staff working on the frontline.

The probe by the consumer watchdog found hundreds of examples of unbranded devices (pictured) on the online auction site that failed to detect CO gas or smoke reliably.

Seventeen toys for children aged 0-3 have failed safety tests amid fears they could choke infants to death. 

A former junior producer for The Kyle and Jackie O Show claims to have sold a container full of 'rare Sydney bushfire smoke' on eBay for $72.

Are you investing in the things that will help make the future that you want possible? Maybe it is something that we should all at least consider.

Aussie star Harry Joswsey quickly become a breakout star of Netflix's newest dating series, Too Hot to Handle.

Joe Exotic's lawyers are preparing to send his case to President Trump in an attempt to get the convicted zookeeper pardoned.

The actor and filmmaker passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Monday, aged 79, following a long illness. He will be remembered for a 'understated and charming' personality that cut across genres.

The clamour for Mohamed Sankoh is growing after an impressive campaign at Stoke's academy, scoring nine goals and registering nine assists in his 16 appearances for the club's Under-18 side