The esteemed judging panel charged with judging the inaugural William Hill Australian Sports Book of the Year has narrowed the list down to five.

The five books that have been short-listed for the William Hill Australian Sports Book of the Year for 2015 are:

• The Straight Dope by Chip Le Grand (Melbourne University Press)

• Sonny Ball by Paul Kent (MacMillan)

• The Short Long Book by Martin Flanagan (Random House)

• Dangerous Games by Larry Writer (Allen & Unwin)

• Roy Higgins by Patrick Bartley (Penguin)

“The quality of the books submitted was just outstanding and whittling the long list of 12 to a short list of five was no easy task,” Judging Panel chairman Ben Ikin said.

“Australia has a long history of fantastic sports writing and it is wonderful that one such author will be recognised this year with the inaugural William Hill Australian Sports Book of the Year.”

Ikin heads a decorated panel that includes Jacquelin Magnay, Gerard Whateley, Charlie Happell and Robert Craddock.

“The William Hill Australian Sports Book of the Year is something we are really proud of and we could not have asked for a short list of such quality,” William Hill spokesman Tim Ashworth said.

The winner will be announced on December 2 at a function to be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground where the winner will be presented with a cheque for $20,000.