England women's and Lancashire player Sophie Ecclestone has been shortlisted for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2016 award.
The nomination caps off a memorable year for the 17-year-old left-arm spinner, during which she made her International Twenty20 and One-Day International debuts as part of series wins for England against Pakistan and West Indies respectively.
Currently studying towards her AS levels at Helsby High School, Ecclestone began playing cricket aged nine after being inspired to get involved by her older brother.
She joins nine other athletes on the award shortlist, with the top three – as chosen by an expert panel – named on Blue Peter on Thursday 8 December and the winner announced during the awards show on Sunday 18 December.
Brilliant to see @englandcricket women's @sophecc223 in the shortlist!
— ECB🏏 (@ECB_cricket) November 25, 2016
Congratulations 👏 https://t.co/oPwoRaJJv5
After the announcement, Ecclestone said: “I’m absolutely buzzing! Looking back it has been a crazy year for me – to make my International Twenty20 debut in the summer against Pakistan, and then to get picked to go and play in the One-Day International series against the West Indies in the Caribbean – the last 12 months have been incredible and I have loved every second of it. This news today is now the icing on the cake.
“I love everything to do with sport, and every year I look forward to watching BBC Sports Personality of the Year with my family before Christmas.
“It’s unreal to think that I’ve been nominated for the Young Sports Personality of the Year. I’ve already had a brilliant few months, and this has just made it even better.
“It is an absolute honour to be included in the top ten alongside some of the best young sports stars in the world.”