Amateur photographer makes shortlist of 11 best cricketing photos

[Photo credit: © Andy Clay]

Clay’s photo shows Bexley Cricket Club player Joe Russell attempting a catch on the boundary last year.

MCC-Wisden Cricket Photograph of the Year is open to amateur and professional photographers worldwide.

Matthew Lewis was declared the overall winner, bagging the Getty Images photographer the £2,000 top prize.

Lewis’s image shows West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo taking a diving catch at a Twenty20 match in Bangladesh.

Commenting on his winning shot (see below), Lewis said: ‘I had just returned to my pitchside position after taking photos of the crowd and this was my first picture after sitting back down.

‘Dwayne Bravo first fumbled the ball facing away from me, but then twisted around 180° and took a terrific catch.

‘My focus had been on the batsman, but I swiftly switched to Bravo to capture his outstretched hands as he held on to the ball.

‘It was an amazing catch and it was great to have captured it.’

Chair of the judging panel Chris Smith described the standard of this year’s entries as ‘outstanding’.

He added: ‘We also saw a very strong selection of entries from amateur photographers, which is always encouraging, and I’m pleased Andy Clay’s fantastic shot made it on to the shortlist.

‘There is an excellent range of photographs in the top 11 and everyone on it is fully deserving of their prizes and recognition.’

The MCC-Wisden Cricket Photograph of the Year was first launched in 2010.

The best 11 images are due to go on show at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

www.lords.org/photooftheyear.