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PCA England Legends raise more than £172,000 for grassroots cricket.
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The PCA England Legends programme has once again raised a significant amount of money to support grassroots cricket, with former England batter Owais Shah named PCA England Legends Player of the Summer.
The Legends team was led by former England and Surrey all-rounder Alex Tudor for a seventh consecutive year, with his side amassing £172,791 for the grassroots game.
Tudor’s team played seven matches and two tournaments from May to August, going unbeaten all summer, winning six games while the other was abandoned due to rain.
The campaign started against Kimbolton School in Cambridgeshire before the team went on to play across the country, including in Surrey, Lancashire, Norfolk and Essex.
This year saw 33 players represent the PCA England Legends, with five making their debuts. These included seam bowler Chris Tremlett, who was capped 28 times by England, recently retired Josh Cobb, Jon Batty and the current Essex duo of Tom Westley and Jamie Porter.
The Legends side had some memorable outings, including securing a narrow seven-run victory against Great Witchingham CC in Norwich.
The biggest win of the summer came against Monton CC in Lancashire where the Legends secured a 73-run victory. Derbyshire and Northern Superchargers all-rounder Samit Patel scored an unbelievable 121 from just 39 balls, including scoring 34 runs in one over to help the Legends put 255 on the board from 20 overs. In response, Monton could only register 182.
The PCA England Legends programme continues to lift the host clubs with their presence by attracting large crowds at the games, engaging with fans, leading kids coaching sessions and most importantly raising valuable funds for the clubs.
Shah wins PCA England Legends Player of the Summer
Shah was voted the PCA England Legends Player of the Summer for 2025 by his fellow teammates after a dominant season with the bat.
He received a bespoke trophy from Mappin & Webb along with prize money worth £1,000 for winning the annual award, which was previously won twice in a row by Ali Brown.
The former England batter featured in all seven games, as well as in one tournament, and played a crucial role in helping his side go unbeaten all season long. He picked up four Player of the Match awards for his efforts and struck two centuries.
His first hundred came against Mawdesley CC, where he scored 121 to help his side register 207 from 20 overs. The game was, however, abandoned due to rain.
Shah scored his second hundred against Hadleigh & Thundersley CC in August, helping the PCA England Legends record a 12-run victory. The 47-year-old smashed 127 off just 65 balls, his highest score of the season.
After winning the PCA England Legends Player of the Summer, Owais Shah said: “I am extremely proud to win an award which is voted by the whole squad you played with during the summer. For them to recognise your achievements is very special. We went the whole season with an unbeaten record so that also makes winning this award very special.
“The PCA England Legends is a great programme. It goes all over the country and wherever we go there is always plenty of media in the local clubs to try and get kids involved on the day. When the Legends turn up, it is a really exciting thing for those younger players to come along and watch and sometimes even play against us. It’s a great experience for the kids to learn from former England internationals.
“I am extremely proud of my performances this summer. More than getting the hundreds, it is about contributing in these days. To come out and perform, fall on your basics and experience, that does really help to get that satisfactory feeling after the game.
“I have known Alex [Tudor] since we were 14 and have followed his career very closely. We are very close friends, and I love being in his company. He is a great ambassador for the PCA and a very good choice as captain. He leads well on and off the field and speaks really well in the luncheons on behalf of all of us so great credit to him, I love playing cricket alongside him.”
The PCA England Legends, gives recreational clubs and schools a vehicle to raise significant funds for their community. Click here to find out more about the programme.
