An image capturing Craig Simmons' reaction to a broken bat has won the 2015 Wisden-MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year Competition
Big Bash snap claims top cricket pic prize
An image capturing the shock on the face of Adelaide Strikers heavy hitter Craig Simmons as his bat breaks loose and sails away from his handle has won the coveted Wisden–MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year Competition.
Getty Images photographer Robert Cianflone captured the moment during the KFC Big Bash League semi-final between Adelaide and the Sydney Sixers in January 2015.
"As a judge going through lots of pictures it’s a great feeling when you come across a shot like Robert’s," said chairman of the judging panel, Chris Smith.
"It was this picture that made us stop and look. It demanded attention. All the elements came together in a beautifully composed image with no little humour."
Smith is the former Chief Sports Photographer of London's The Sunday Times. The judging panel also included world-renowned cricket photographer Patrick Eagar, award-winning sports photographer Bob Thomas and former art director of The Cricketer magazine, Nigel Davies, along with former chief photographer of the New Musical Express, Kevin Cummins.
Winner
Robert Cianflone, Getty Images
Image Id: ~/media/AD37B58784B341869FF22427BDDB47E6Craig Simmons of Adelaide Strikers breaks his bat during the Big Bash League semi-final between the Strikers and Sydney Sixers.
Runners-up
Darrian Traynor, Getty Images
Image Id: ~/media/0ACD0256663A4AF9A2965AA2EFF17D80Dale Dhamarrandji, from Gapuwiyak, Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, has an impromptu practice session in the dry Todd River with his Miwatj Dolphins teammates during the 2015 Imparja Cup, a tournament for Indigenous Australians.
Vishnur V. Nair, Malayala Manorama
Image Id: ~/media/94B1F6CAB1AF440B96CB7DA0EE78A713A group of local youths in Dadar play on – despite scant equipment and monsoon rain.
Shortlisted
Gareth Copley, Getty Images
Image Id: ~/media/CBE30319467E43A495EC59587B88CD2CStuart Broad bowls to Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq during day three of the Second Test between Pakistan and England in Dubai.
Barry Gill, amateur photographer
Image Id: ~/media/185403AE52C34757A6D9D9BE2F932CFFThe ball lodges behind the grille of Pateley Bridge CC batsman Colin Chadwick during a match against West Tanfield CC in Division Two of the Theakston Nidderdale Cricket League. Chadwick was unhurt and made 53 not out.
Randy Brooks, Brooks LaTouche Photography
Image Id: ~/media/528D1E4D18A64D36BD2AF64811AFD71ATwin sisters Kycia and Kyshona Knight celebrate victory in a Super Over after the third and final Twenty20 international between the West Indies and Pakistan was initially tied in Granada.
David Rowe, freelance
Image Id: ~/media/26340B9440FC4934B62D66B1F5379E10Kumar Sangakkara demolishes the stumps after risking a quick single for Surrey against Nottinghamshire in the semi-final of the Royal London One-Day Cup. Sangakkara survived, and made a match-winning 166.
Abu Taher Khokon, Bangladesh Pratidin
Image Id: ~/media/D8231FC6E557496BB55C6420B247EEDBNasir Hossain of Bangladesh is bowled by Chris Morris in the first one-day international between Bangladesh and South Africa.
Tom Ballard, amateur photographer
Image Id: ~/media/96E518A62BEE41B6B8800961A7B16E2FFran Wilson (left) and Alex Hartley (right) take a single for Middlesex against Sussex in the NatWest WCT20 at Arundel Castle in West Sussex.
Scott Barbour, Getty Images
Image Id: ~/media/1BCE5210B8334A6B8C7F6AB26B9ECDF5Openers Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch of the Melbourne Renegades receive a warm welcome at the start of their KFC Big Bash League encounter with the Perth Scorchers.
Alex Massie, amateur photographer
Image Id: ~/media/A42D1B2EA9BC420B8E5771471F5C5A3ABooni Cricket Club host the Wounded Tiger XI, a British team who toured North-West Pakistan. The image was taken at Booni in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.