Year's best snaps put cricket in focus

A spectacular image of Dwayne Bravo taking a full-length diving catch to dismiss Australia's James Faulkner has been named the Wisden-MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year 2014.

The photo, taken by Getty Images snapper Matthew Lewis, was taken during the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh, a game Australia lost to all but end their hopes in the only international tournament the country is yet to win.

Lewis explained that it was photo he almost didn't get, having been taking colour snaps of the crowd.

"I had just returned to my pitch-side position after taking photos of the crowd and this was my first picture after sitting back down," he said.

"Dwayne Bravo first fumbled the ball facing away from me but then twisted around 180 degrees 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."

Another Lewis snap was named a runner-up in the competition, again from the World T20. The second image shows Nurul Hasan, of Bangladesh A, looking despairingly at his scattered stumps after being bowled by South Africa’s Dale Steyn during an World Twenty20 warm-up match.

Australia's players featured in the first runner-up prize, snapped by Getty Images' Morne de Klerk, a striking image of the players leaving the field at the end of day three of the Second Test in Port Elizabeth.

The prize is sponsored by J.P Morgan who provided a £2,000 prize for the winner, £1,000 for each runner-up plus £250 for each of the eight shortlisted pictures.

The winners and shortlisted images are displayed below

WinnerImage Id: ~/media/C709714A66DB4B31AE3C5305012C4073

Dwayne Bravo catches James Faulkner during the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh // Matthew Lewis, Getty Images

Runner upImage Id: ~/media/7BA5C3340ED542CF9E49D0933FFEA2EA

Players leave the field at the end of the third day of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth // Morne de Klerk, Getty ImagesImage Id: ~/media/444268E656794DD181203F2831342F75

Nurul Hasan of Bangladesh looks on after being bowled by Dale Steyn of South Africa during a World T20 warm-up match // Matthew Lewis, Getty Images

Short listedImage Id: ~/media/75AF60AB21024FC3AE958FFBAB3E42F1

As the sun sets behind Mount Wellington, in Hobart England’s Danny Briggs bowls during a T20 against Australia // Scott Barbour, Getty ImagesImage Id: ~/media/6E2DBB454B0B4024BBDE0624EDB92EEB

Stuart Broad edges the ball between the grill and peak of his helmet, breaking his nose  // Philip Brown, ReutersImage Id: ~/media/C9D7133589D84588A637D212C730A304

England's Michael Carberry breaks his bat playing a ball from Ryan Harris during the Sydney Ashes Test // Brett Costello, News Corp AustraliaImage Id: ~/media/28230035905E43908EB3D7AF28D0C8A2

While their parents scratch a living by sorting rubbish, children use a dump – in Dhaka, Bangladesh – for a game of cricket // Abu Taher Khokon, FreelanceImage Id: ~/media/04015BEEA32E4AAD9D1FF38ED6A8396B

In the ice-covered crater of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro the world’s highest game of cricket has a stunning backdrop. Players trekked for eight days before staging a full Twenty20 match // Peter Martell, AFPImage Id: ~/media/5B8C07C06D2B4D4FB16600A33C17389D

Australia’s twelfth man, Phillip Hughes, walks into the changing-room during day two of the Second Test against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi // Ryan Pierse, Getty ImagesImage Id: ~/media/35CF8F977A6F45E2B167A04437C00F1E

James Anderson leans on his bat after being dismissed by Shaminda Eranga of Sri Lanka, from the penultimate ball of the second Test, at Headingley. Victory sealed the series for Sri Lanka // Dave Thompson, Getty ImagesImage Id: ~/media/8CD56533A9E544F28A0214BDB90670D9

Despite being the tallest player in the side, fielder Joe Russell of Bexley Cricket Club is unable to take a catch and six runs were scored // Andy Clay, amateur photographer