UK Champs Preview 2015

 

£2000 UK National Champs 2015

The milestone 10th edition of the LMS U.K. Championships sees 18 teams, split into 6 different groups battling it out for the title of the best LMS team in the United Kingdom. The event will be held in North London on the 19th and 20th September with the winner taking home a cash prize of £2000 and a £500 LMS Tours travel voucher. The pathway to UK Finals day can be viewed in this link - "Road to London 2015"

Structure of Finals Day:

• Six groups of three.
• The top team in each group will automatically progress to Quarter Finals.
• Four 2nd placed teams (with highest points) will qualify for a prelimanary play-off match. The two winning teams from these matches will advance to the Quarter FInals.
• The knocked out teams after the Group Stages will be entered into the Plate Event.
• Each team is guaranteed at least 3 games.

 

Regional Finals

To progress to the £2000 UK National Champs Finals day, teams need to qualify (and win) their respective Regional Finals. There will be 17 regional qualification events taking place on Sunday 6th September. The final spot will be taken up by the winners of the inaugural Edinburgh Open.

In anticipation of the event we will be previewing the 17 regions and the top teams in each. So do your research and know who you’ll be coming up against.

Group 1 - Manchester:

The Styal Chargers: The Chargers are a new gun side in the Manchester league, with a dominant bowling attack and some fluent batsmen. They are led by the skipper Bilal Afzal, who has a strike rate over 200 from a handful of matches. Highest ranked bowler is Muhammad Baig, with a meisly economy rate of just over 4.

The Magnificent Marauding Mongeese: With a winning percentage of 75% over more than 50 matches, and LMS stalwart Mark Law in the side, the Mongeese are definitely magnificent. A solid batting line up and a bowling attack featuring Andrew Harrison (ranked 30th in the world) these lads are a team to be wary of.

Group 2 - Liverpool:

Top Scousers: The defending Liverpool champions, boast a depth of quality bowling and batting. Led by skipper MIchael Dodd, and with likes of Jackson, Baird, Whelan and new recruit Farukh Nisar who blazed an unbeaten 123 off 38 balls on debut, there's are reason these blokes are on top in Liverpool.

Wirral:

The Special Ones: The dominant force on the Wirral, The Special Ones have been getting it done since before the 2013 World Championships. Recruiting strongly from clubs across the Wirral, captain Paul Kearney has a strong all round team. The batsman to look out for is Haroon Khan, who averages almost 100 in LMS with a strike rate nearing 200, and the bowling attack is led by aussie Dave Tassell and Rich Battersby.

St. Helens:

Windleshaw Woolys: The Woolys are a promising bunch, who nearly claimed the scalp of The Special Ones in last years regional semi-final. A mysterious team who, are capable of knocking anyone off on their day the highest ranked batsman is Ian Knowles, and the highest ranked bowler is Jimmy Davies. Look out for these guys as they begin to forge a reputation in the North West.

Warrington:

Rylands Rockets: The host club of the new Warrington league, Rylands Rockets have a newly installed artificial wicket and the benefit of home ground knowledge. With a lot of club cricket experience, expect them to be in the top few teams come the end of the season.

Group 3 - Birmingham East:

Birmingham All Stars: As the name boasts, the All Stars are the brightest bunch in Birmingham. Bursting with big name batsman Waqas Raja and backed up by bowler Naqash Salim, will the All Stars will be basking in glory or buried under boulders come September?

Birmingham North East:

SASA: Star all-rounder Patrick Knott is the highest ranked batsman and bowler, and with Omar Dawood assisting with âda woodâ and Ranvir Singh delivering the ball to his tune, SASA will be up there trying to knock off the Birmingham All Stars and qualify from Group 3.

Warwickshire:

The Passionate Few: Runners-Up in last years Midlands Champions League, the boys from Warwickshire will be looking to go slightly better this year. With the 36th ranked bowler in the world Anil Lohan and Khan, Maroofkhail and Chandra all inside the top 5000 with the willow in hand The Passionate Few will be a tough challenge for any team trying to get out of the Midlands.

Group 4 - Leicester:

Leicester United: Sources say they're the strongest team in the Leicestershire League, but tend to fall in big games. With consistent all-rounders Chandra and Palanisamy set for a big tournament, hopefully they can get the boys over the line and on the trip to London to battle the big guns.

Nottingham:

Peartree Cricket Club: The lads from Peartree possess some quality in both the batting and bowling department. Three feature in the top 2000 in each department, and with Muhammad Zeeshan wielding the stick and Barry Rai the 4-piece in the top 1000, PCC are ready to launch in the shortest and most exciting format of the game.

Derbyshire:

Derby Daredevils: One of the newer teams in the Derbyshire league, the Daredevils have made an excellent start to their season. Some firepower batting from the likes Dorka and Hewitson and a tidy all-round bowling performance will prove a challenge for the rest of the group. Hopefully they are quick learners, and despite the lack of matches can devise some solid game plans.

Northampton:

Coton Raiders: New to LMS 2015 they are a stand out team in their Saturday league. A great group of guys and will be tough opposition should they be able to convert their 11-a-side cricket skills into LMS victories and reach the regional finals.

Kettering:

Burton Lattimer C.C: As the host club of the Kettering league, they have a storng knowledge of the conditions, which will come in handy during the league finals. They have made a terrific start to the season and are currently unbeaten. They are still relatively new, so they are still working on getting their rankings up but expect Cunninghamd, Hood, Shelford and co. to work their way up to the big time.

Group 5 - Wakefield:

AJ Sport: Undefeated so far this season, AJ Sport are a team on the rise. With all-rounder George Swaby providing with the willow and the 4-piece, and quality options Holgate and Azam filling in around him, opposition will have to do their best to make sure George doesn't dominate and no one steps up to fill his shoes.

Bradford:

Taurus: Number 1 team in the world for most of last summer, Taurus have won the Regional Finals at Headingley twice. Will be playing in the new Bradford League this summer which they will be the hot favourites to win. To be the highest ranked team in the world you have to be strong from 1-8, so there are no stand out ranked players, but no matter what team turns out on the day you can be sure they'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Leeds:

Bardsey C.C: A highly experienced team who are former national finalists and have appeared at the World Championships in recent year. Now that Taurus are in the Bradford league, they'll be looking to reclaim the Leeds title. With Walkden and Manjrekar ranked in the top 1000 with the bat and Hughes the top 100 with the cherry, Bardsey will provide stiff opposition.

Royal Strikers Leeds: Leeds champions last year, the Strikers narrowly lost to Abby's Diner in the Yorkshire final. Ranked inside the top 10 in England, if they can get through a tough qualification, knock off Bardsey C.C. and make it to London, they ooze class all the way down the list and could land some lofty blows.

Group 6 - Doncaster:

Doncaster Farmer's: The boys from the country can play cricket. T. Woolhouse, McDougal and Woodall can swing the axe and if their bowlers can contain the teams from Hull, Sheffield and Wakefield, they could be a challenge for the boys from the city come September.

Hull:

Sutton Scorchers: The Scorchers have set the Blagg league alight this season with a perfect record so far. Star batsman Rob Gainer already has a century and two fifties to his name this season and managed to chip in with 6 wickets to his name, so if he fires, opposition teams will be feeling the heat.

Sheffield:

Abby's Diner: One of the favourites for the U.K. title, after being runner up last year. The men from Sheffield are packed with stars. Aamar Sajjad is ranked in the top 50 batman globally and if he gets going, with Nawaz and Khan chipping in as well they'll be setting some big scores. With the ball the main man is Ussman Azeem and he's supported by Nawaz and Naveed. They've got a fair bit of silverware in the trophy cabinet already and they'll be looking to add another National championship to the collection.

Group 7 - Norwich:

Fat Cat Tap: Relatively new to the Norwich League, sources say they have the best side on paper. However, we all know that Saturday league form doesn’t always convert to dominance in LMS. They should be a force to be reckoned with if they can bounce back from their early season loss to We'll Steyn Your Pants.

We'll Steyn Your Pants: WSYP are one of the more interestingly named teams getting around, and have a stainless record despite only a handful of games (4 wins from 4). However, they shouldn't be taken lightly, as they knocked off the aforementioned Fat Cat Tap, who are highly touted in Norwich.

Chelmsford

Bullet Proof: Bullet Proof certainly bat with no fear, averaging over 217 runs per innings so far this season on the way to some big wins. Should they win the toss and bat first, it'll be a tough ask to chase down a score that big under pressure. The number 1 ranked team in Chelmsford for a reason, they'll be backing themselves to get it done.

Havering:

The Wood: The Wood possess home ground knowledge in the Havering league and two quality all-rounders in Ali and Sampson, so the key to any victory over them will be nullifying those two. If you let them get away though, you'll be chasing a big score against some smart bowling on their own deck.

Basildon:

Canvey Island C.C: The Islanders are struggling this season. Currently 0-3 after being runners up in the South England Champions League last season. However, as they say form is temporary and class is permanent, so they shouldn't be taken lightly. Apparently the best team in the bar, this may have something to do with their early season form.

Group 8 - Slough:

Slough Tigers: The reigning Slough champions and regional winners last year, ranking suggest they are a lot stronger in the field then with the bat. They have three bowlers in the top 200 in the world, with Raza in the top 10 and Khalid in the top 50. The key to success will be keeping wickets in hand, getting a reasonable score on the board and making their batsmen step up to the plate.

Milton Keynes:

MK Ananda Club: Last years runners-up in the East England Champion's League, the MK Ananda boys will be keen to go one better this year. They have a strong line-up with contributions throughout the line-up, and despite a patchy start to the season, which included a big loss to Slough Tigers, but look out from them at the business end of the season.

Group 9 - Bristol:

Stinking Bishop C.C: With main contributor Hamad Ali ranked in the top 1000 for batting and bowling, and more quality in batsman Sutherland, bowler Casagrande and all-rounder Bond. Currently ranked top in Bristol, they've had two early season losses but will be looking to finish the year strongly and make the Champions League.

Swindon:

Sheffield All-Stars: Featuring stars in Aakarshit Gomel (23rd ranked batsman) and Nathan Sheffield (178th ranked bowler), there's a reason they're number 1 in Swindon and Wiltshire. Group 9 has no real standout teams and could be a group of death, but expect these guys to be around come the semis and final.

Taunton:

Vale Vikings: With a few noted axe wielders in the team in Greenwood and Davenport, the Vikings will be looking to pillage and plunder their way through the qualifying stage. Currently unbeaten in their own league this year, it'll be interesting how they shape up when the big games come around.

West Somerset:

College Crusaders: Currently sitting on top in the West Somerset league and unbeaten these young lads will be favourites to represent West Somerset in the Champions League. A new team this season, their performances are dominated by the all-round displays of Bowditch, Ferris and Marsh. Stop these three and you'll bring their voyage to a holt.

London Groups (Groups 10-16):

Gary Sizzle: Currently 3rd in the UK rankings and the top ranked team in London, they ply their trade in the Paddington Sunday League. Previously an unknown quantity, they've recently started turning heads at HQ, with the likes of Simon De San Miguel and Carl Taylor ranked inside the top 50 with the bat, they should be smoking come September.

The Islanders: The 2nd ranked team in London and 5th in the UK, they are stocked with quality club cricketers. With 5 batsmen averaging over 30 with the bat at strike rates in excess of 150 runs/ball and a bowling attack that knows how to keep it tight, they're an experienced LMS outfit.

AON All Stars: They hail from Barnes, and have recently slipped to 9th in the UK rankings and forfeited their number 1 London ranking. In seasons gone by, they relied heavily on Jono "Bean" Machine with the bat. Since his departure, their results have slipped, but they are a very balanced team and are always tough to beat.

The See You Next Tuesdays: Regents Park's finest antipodeans, the old enemy, Australia. Seasoned campaigners and always seem to recruit strongly, They love to chirp and will probably have a fair bit of ammunition after this Summer's Ashes. C'mon Aussie C'mon!

Cinderfellas: The 11th ranked team in the UK, with a real mix of youth and experience. Most of their players play in two leagues, so they benefit strongly from that in the rankings. Wouldn't discard them to easily as Travers and Brown are class all-rounders.

The Bail Bags: Hail from the land of the long white cloud, and play an attacking style, much like their current BlackCaps. Star players are Park, Preston and Mabey. Hopefully they don't falter against their Aussie big brother, The See You Next Tuesdays.

Group 17 - East Lothian:

Bass Crocks: With two massive wins to start the year, the Crocks are off to a flyer. Still working themselves u the rankings, they shouldn't be underestimated. Neighbouring Edinburgh, there is a fair amount of rivalry there, and I'm sure they will be looking to take a big scalp or two back home with them.

Edinburgh Premier:

Carlton C.C: An extremely well balanced team that have made a strong start to the season, currently unbeaten atop the Edinburgh Premier League and strong favourites to be the Scottish representatives. A lot of club cricket experience in the ranks, they'll be looking to knock off a few of their southern neighbours should they progress to the UK National Finals.

Dundee:

Old Dundonians: The number 1 team in the city of ute, jam and journalism the O.D.s will be keen to win their league and take on the big boys in Edinburgh and across the border. Their top player is Tim Hancock, who has a had a cracking start to the season averaging 73 with the bat and 13 with the ball.

Edinburgh Social:

Old Contemptibles: Despite being in the social league, they are here to win. Have had a great start to the season, and are armed with gun all-rounder Mohammad Razzaq. He is ranked in the top 300 with the ball and top 1700 with the bat. They'll be a formidable opponent and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Group 18 - Edinburgh Open: The first LMS Tours Edinburgh Open will be a two day event on the August Bank Holiday weekend (Sunday 30th and Monday 31st August), of which the winner will qualify as the 18th and final team in the UK National Championships. This is a perfect opportunity for a fantastic weekend away in Scotland, coinciding with the last weekend of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The tournament also provides a second chance for teams that have missed out on making it to the National Finals. To register, or for more information go to the LMS Tours page (www.lastmanstands.com/tours).