Big Bash bat break image wins Wisden-MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year 2015

A dramatic image of a bat breaking from last year’s Big Bash has been named the 2015 Wisden-MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year in association with J.P. Morgan.

The photo, taken by Getty Images photographer Robert Cianflone, captured the moment the bat of Craig Simmons, of the Adelaide Strikers, came away from its handle during the semi-final of last year’s competition.

Vishnu V. Nair’s image of Mumbai youths playing cricket with makeshift stumps in a monsoon was named one of two runners-up.

Darrian Traynor clinched the other runner-up spot for his photo of a team of Indigenous Australians having an impromptu practice session on the banks of the Todd River in Alice Springs, which is dry for much of the year.

Amateur photographers were well represented with three of the shortlisted 11 images being taken by non-professionals. One was Alex Massie, who toured with writer Peter Oborne’s Wounded Tiger XI and documented the trip. His image from the Booni Cricket Club in North West Pakistan earned him a place in the top 11.

Now in its sixth year, the competition attracted more than 350 entries from around the world, with photographers of all levels of experience capturing cricketing moments, from inner-city India to rural England.

A top prize of £2,000 will be awarded to the winner, and the selected runners-up will also win £1,000. The top three images will appear as the first three colour photographs in the 2016 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.

The other eight shortlisted entries will each receive £250. All prizes are courtesy of competition partners J.P. Morgan.

The shortlist, runners-up and eventual winner were chosen by a judging panel chaired by former Chief Sports Photographer of The Sunday Times, Chris Smith, and including world-renowned cricket photographer Patrick Eagar. Award-winning sports photographer Bob Thomas and former art director of The Cricketer magazine, Nigel Davies, were also on the panel, along with former chief photographer of the New Musical Express, Kevin Cummins. 

Chris Smith said: “As a judge going through lots of pictures it’s a great feeling when you come across a shot like Robert’s. 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. We were very impressed with the standard of photographs in general this year, and all the shortlisted photographers are deserving of their prizes.”

Adam Chadwick, MCC’s Curator of Collections, said: “Every year the entries to this competition go from strength to strength, and this year was no different. The top 11 images will be greatly appreciated by all those on a Lord’s Tour this season and I’m looking forward to seeing them displayed in the MCC Museum. I would also like to thank J.P. Morgan for their continued and generous support of this competition.”

For more information visit www.lords.org/photooftheyear.