UK Champs Team Preview
Pool A
AON ALL STARS The All stars are into their eighth season of LMS cricket and fifth consecutive UK Finals weekend. Ranked 8th in the World they are a strong outfit and if experienced players Nick Dalby-Walsh and Blake Van Der Linde perform they have a great chance of reaching the latter stages.
Player to watch William Moore Averaging 88.6 this season with the bat and over 40 career wickets to his name he is a talented all-rounder. He is also a member of the LMShundred club with a highest score of 121*
SHEFFIELD ALL STARS – Wiltshire Champions for 2015 and South West Regional Winners the All Stars come to the UK Finals full of confidence. Don't let their rankings mislead you, this season they have been dominant in the South West and are a team on the up. Player to watch Sanjay Chauhan“ Mr Consistent Sanjay has had another successful season withthe bat averaging over 50. He made a crucial 50* in the Regional Final and not only does he score runs, he scores them quickly.
GN EURO - Winners of the Leicestershire competition GN Euro are in their first season with LMS cricket and have had some success in an eventful year. They feature some excellent attacking batsmen and some disciplined bowlers, they will have to be at there very best to make it out of a tough group.
Player to watch Mohammed Ashgar Khan The opening batsmen was the star of the Regional Finals scoring 3 50s including a blistering 80* against the Northampton Champions. He can also back this up with some miserly bowling which makes him a huge asset to any side. If he replicates his Regional Finals form he could well fire GN Euro into the quarter finals stages.
Pool B
THE SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY'S Ranked number 1 in London City Centre the SYNT's boast a talented batting line up with Charlie Burgess and Jeremy Gibson both ranked in the top 150 in the World. Setting big totals comes naturally to these guys. Player to watch Jamie Edington Destined to join Burgess and Gibson at the top of the rankings Jamie has scored 660 career runs at an average of 110 striking at 175 runs per 100 balls. He is a player in form going into these finals and you'll need to dismiss him early.
TAURUS - They are back at another UK Finals, ranked 5th in the World they are one of the favourites to win the event. The boys from Bradford have only ever lost 3 times in 4 seasons! Could this be the year they go all the way...watch this space
Player to watch Nawaz Sardar Although having a lean 2015 season Nawaz is a extremely talented batsmen and has a record to back that up. He has twice averaged over 100 in a season and has an impressive strike rate which makes him a dangerous player.
NORTH LONDON MUSLIM CC Hackney's number 1 team come to the UK finals as underdogs however have a few star players that can win games on their own. They have picked up some scalps along their journey and also have the number 1 ranked batsmen in the World in their team.
Player to watch Zubair Ghardiwala He is currently the number 1 batsmen in the World. Zubhair has scored 675 runs in 13 inning s at an average of 96.43 however the key to his batting is his strike rate which is a unbelievable 294.76! He has a high score of 151* off 39 balls.
POOL C
RAW PACE Ranked 12th in England and runner up n the Regents Park Sunday league Raw Pace are making their first finals appearance. They have come into form at the right end of the season with some impressive victories. Despite the name they have a strong batting line up and regularly post large totals, they will hoping home advantage is in their favour in a tough group.
Player to watch Affan Butt 114 career wickets and 30 in this season, his experience will be crucial when the chips are down, if he can make early inroads the rest of their pace attack should flourish.
FJT STALLIONS - The Stallions have become a specialist touring side of late, they took part in Barbados World Championships and have recently competed in and won the inaugural LMS Edinburgh open which secured their entrance to this years finals. A team with a huge amount of ability and potential to go all the way. They will have to hit the ground running as they are in the group of death.
Player to watch“ Burhan Mahmood The talented all-rounder hasn't had the best of seasons with the bat and will be looking to recreate the form he showed in the 2014 season. He Is also a very tricky leg spin bowler with great control. He has picked up over 30 wickets this season and is key to the success of the Stallions.
AYLESBURY OUTLAWZ The winners of a highly competitive South England Regional Finals day and two time winners of the Aylesbury Midweek League. The Outlawz are in great form suffering only 2 losses in 21 matches and come into the competition as a team that could cause an upset or two along the way.
Player to watch Faisal Ali He is in great form coming into the competition, averaging over 85 runs per innings in 2015. Faisal made some crucial knocks in the Regional Finals, most notably a classic 50 against the Slough Tigers which secured victory for his team.
POOL D
OLD SEAGULLIANS Making a return to an LMS UK Finals are the boys from Wandsworth and they will be hoping to break out of the group and make it at least to the quarter finals . In 2012 they reached the UK final in Neston but just came up short, can they go one step further in 2015?
Player to watch Elliot Brown – Once upon a time Brown sat amongst the top 5 bowlers in the World and had LMS England representative honours, a rocky 2014 season has forced him back down the ranks but he looks back to his best again with 11 wickets at 18 a piece for the season.
PAK LIONS BRIGHTON - Brighton and Sussex Champions for 2015 the Pak Lions have enjoyed a successful season and boast some impressive statistics. They have a well rounded team featuring some big hitters and skilful bowlers. If there big players perform they can be expected to reach the quarter finals.
Player to watch Abdul Wahab Shafi The left arm fast bowler has an impressive record, he has picked up 18 wickets this season at only 10 runs a piece and has an economy of 4 runs per over! His opening spells will be crucial to the success of the Lions.
KHAN STARS For the first time in years we have someone other than Team Manchester representing this end of the country and Khan Stars have some talented players that could keep the title in Manchester. Fawad Khan scored 50 on his own in their first ever outing in LMS to win and since then they have not looked back.
Player to watch Ahmed Ali Khan A consistent season for Ahmed has seen him score over 250 runs. He will need to be at his best in a tough group to get the Stars off to a good start.
POOL E
LAHORE LIONS - The number 1 ranked team in Birmingham and Birmingham Regional Champions are a team to watch this year. They have had some impressive victories this season and have some talented players in their ranks. They took the Regional Finals s by storm and will be looking for a repeat in the UK Finals
Player to watch Wajahad Chauhan Although with only a few games to his name its clear he has what it takes to score runs quickly in the LMS format. Averaging 75 and two quality 50's this season make him our star man.
ABBYS DINER It wouldn't be an LMS UK Finals without the Diner. Consistent performers with honours to back it up, these guys are the favourites for the title. They were last years runners up to Team Manchester and will be looking to go one further and lift the title for a second time.
Player to watch Tahir Nawaz Closing in on 1000 career runs Tahir has had a number of brilliant seasons, he scores his runs quickly and is averaging 93 this term. You will need to dismiss him early otherwise he will race to 50 and beyond.
SOUTH HARROW EAGLES New for 2015 the Eagles have had a great first season and find themselves in the UK finals after blowing the opposition away in the London Finals winning the final by 75 runs! They are a dangerous side with a range of pace, spin and swing in their armoury. They have the potential to make it through to the latter stages.
Player to watch Sajid Bh A talented all rounder Sajid is another player who gets on with it striking at over 300. He also has the ability to pick up wickets and has become a go to man for his skipper when they are required.
POOL F
FAT CAT TAP Winners of the East England Regional Finals the Tap endured an interesting season. They started like a house of fire, then faltered in the middle stages but are now peaking at the right time. Despite being the lowest ranked team on display they have the potential to make it far in the competition with some powerful stroke makers and quick bowlers.
Player to watch AJ Johnson The left handed stoke makers statistics do not do justice to the man. A talented player that when in full flow is reminiscent of Ben Stokes. Powerful through Johnson has the potential to top the batting charts at this years championships.
LAHORE BADSHAA'S XIII Another team that have been around the LMS circuit for a few years and have even made a World Finals appearance. The Badshaas started the season poorly with 2 losses but since then have remained undefeated and will be one of the most in form teams coming to London. Will they be able to keep their unbeaten run going?
Player to watch Qaisar Rizwan The right arm fast bowler has had a superb 2015, 14 wickets added to his 277 runs at 69.25 make him our star man. He has a wealth be crucial in what promises to be a competitive group.
CHAKWAL STARS - The Stars have had a long but prosperous 2015, they have played in over 30 matches this season and top the rankings for Redbridge and Walthamstow and won Group 15 of the London Champions League. They have a strong bowling line up and one or two match winners in their ranks.
Player to watch Aumer Ali Ali has scored over 2700 career runs and taken over 70 wickets, he would make it in to most LMS teams and this season has scored over 1500 runs! He has the potential to set these UK Finals alight and continue progressing up the World Rankings.