Los Angeles Lashings Explained

League:Minor League Cricket
Conference:Western Division (Pacific Conference)
Alt Name:Los Angeles Lashings
Colours: Purple, and Gold.
Captain:Dale Phillips
City:Los Angeles, California, USA
Owner:Abhimanyu Rajp
Deepak Gosain
Ground:Leo Magnus Cricket Complex
Capacity:5,000
T Title:T20 kit

The Los Angeles Lashings are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC) and other T20 Cricket tournaments across the USA. The team's home base is in Los Angeles. Lashings was named in 2020 as part of the 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket USA.[1] The franchise is co-owned by Abhimanyu Rajp and Deepak Gosain.[2]

The team's current home ground is the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex, located in the neighborhood of Van Nuys, Los Angeles.[3] Dale Phillips currently helms responsibility as captain, with Elmore Hutchinson standing by as vice-captain.[4]

Franchise history

Background

Talks of an American Twenty20 league started in November 2018 just before USA Cricket became the new governing body of cricket in the United States.[5] [6] In May 2021, USA Cricket announced they had accepted a bid by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for a US$1 billion investment covering the league and other investments benefitting the U.S. national teams.[7]

In an Annual General Meeting on February 21, 2020, it was announced that USA Cricket was planning to launch Major League Cricket in 2021 and Minor League Cricket that summer,[8] but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[9] and due to the lack of high-quality cricket stadiums in the USA.[10] Major League Cricket was pushed to a summer-2023 launch[11] and Minor League Cricket was pushed back to July 31, 2021.[12]

USA Cricket CEO Iain Higgins also pointed out cities such as New York City, Houston and Los Angeles with a large cricket fanbase, and targeted them among others as launch cities for Minor League Cricket.[13]

Exhibition league

In July 2020, the player registration for the Minor League Cricket exhibition league began.[14] On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team.[15] The draft for the exhibition league began on August 22, 2020,[16] with the Lashings releasing their squad on August 24.[17] Abhimanyu Rajp was later named as captain for the Los Angeles Lashings for the exhibition league.

Minor League Cricket

2021: After the conclusion of the exhibition league, USA Cricket announced that they were planning to launch the inaugural season of Minor League Cricket in spring 2021.[18] Ahead of the official season, which was announced to kick off on July 31,[19] the Lashings announced former USA National Team member Abhimanyu Rajp to continue his role as captain with Elmore Hutchinson helming vice-captain duties.

In their first match of the season, the Lashings defeated the Surf Riders by 4 wickets in a last-over thriller.[20] They then went on to lose to the Blazers and to the Grizzlies, but came back to win against the Strikers by 4 wickets the following week.[21] They then went on a 8-game losing streak, losing to the Strikers, the Grizzlies, the Blazers, the Thunderbolts twice, the Athletics, the Mustangs, and the Hurricanes[22] [23] [24] [25] before winning against the Surf Riders and the Master Blasters to end out the group stage.[26] [27] The Lashings finished out in 5th place, thus failing to qualify for the play-offs.

2022: Ahead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.[28] Dale Phillips took over the Captain's responsibility in 2022 season, along with Katene Clarke signed as the overseas recruits for the year.

2023: Lashings finished one win away from qualifying for the playoffs in their third season.[29]

League structure

Teams in each division will play anywhere from 14 to 16 games in the league stage. Once the league stage is completed, the top two teams in each division will advance to the quarterfinals, wherein the top team in each division will face the second-placed team in the other division of their conference for a best-of-three series. The remaining games will be regular knockout matches, with the semifinals sending one team from each conference to the final.[30] The official schedule and the venues of the playoffs was released on September 20, 2021, by Major League Cricket.[31] The league structure was changed ahead of the 2023 season, with teams in each division now playing 10 games in the league stage. The top team of each division advances directly to the Super 8s, whereas the next two teams advance into the knockout stage. During the knockout stage, a total of 4 teams advance to the Super 8s, wherein the top two teams face each other in the finals.[32]

Media

Matches are streamed by Minor League Cricket on its YouTube channel and the streaming platform FanCode.[33]

Schedule

2024 Minor League Schedule - Los Angeles
Date Day Time Event Location
9/13/2024 Friday 2:30 PM vs. Silicon Valley Strikers Woodley Park - Wright
9/14/2024 Saturday 10:30 AM vs. Golden State Grizzlies Woodley Park - Wright
9/15/2024 Sunday 2:30 PM vs. Silicon Valley Strikers Woodley Park - Wright
9/16/2024 Monday 10:45 AM vs. East Bay Blazers Woodley Park - Wright
9/20/2024 Friday 2:45 PM vs. Seattle Thunderbolts Tollgate Farms - Seattle
9/21/2024 Saturday 10:45 AM vs. Seattle Thunderbolts Tollgate Farms - Seattle
9/27/2024 Friday 11:45 AM vs. San Diego Surf Riders Woodley Park - Wright
9/29/2024 Sunday 10:45 AM vs. San Diego Surf Riders Canyonside Park

Current squad

NameNationalityBatting styleBowling styleYear signedNotes
Dale PhillipsRight-handed 2022 Overseas
Katene ClarkeRight-handed Right-arm off break2022 Overseas
Shamsher Singh Right-handed Right-arm fast medium2021 Overseas
Shiva VashishatRight-handed N/A2021
Abhimanyu Rajp Right-handed 2021
Harpreet SinghLeft-handed Right-arm off break2021
Elmore HutchinsonRight-handed Left-arm fast medium2021
Ravi TimbawalaRight-handed N/A2023
Mrunal PatelLeft-handed Left-arm off spin2023
Kirstan KallicharanRight-handed N/A 2021 Overseas
Ruben ClintonRight-handed Right-arm off break]2021 Overseas
Pranav PragyadalaRight-handed Right-arm leg break2023 U17
Ayan DesaiLeft-handedLeft-arm fast medium]2023 U21
Deepak Gosain Right-handed N/A2021

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update . . 15 August 2020 . 6 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Abhimanyu Rajp talks about co-ownership of SoCal Lashings in Minor League Cricket . . ExBulletin . 24 August 2020 . 6 February 2022.
  3. Web site: Minor League Division Preview Series – Western . . . 1 August 2021 . 6 February 2022.
  4. Web site: Pre-Draft Selections Confirmed by 21 Minor League Cricket Teams as Draft Day Looms . . 4 June 2021 . 6 February 2022.
  5. Web site: USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket . Peter Della . Penna . . 8 January 2019 . 7 February 2022.
  6. Web site: USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021 . Peter Della . Penna . 27 November 2018 . . 7 February 2022.
  7. Web site: USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League . . 23 May 2019 . 7 February 2022.
  8. Web site: USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020 . . 27 February 2020 . 7 February 2022.
  9. Web site: USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns . SportBusiness . 2 August 2021 . 7 February 2022.
  10. Web site: American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting . . 24 May 2021 . 7 February 2022.
  11. Web site: USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM . Peter Della . Penna . 21 May 2021 . . 7 February 2022.
  12. Web site: Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix . Peter Della . Penna . 30 July 2021 . . 7 February 2022.
  13. Web site: New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition . Peter Della . Penna . 27 February 2020 . . 7 February 2022.
  14. Web site: Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening . . 7 July 2020 . 8 February 2022.
  15. Web site: Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update . . 15 August 2020 . 8 February 2022.
  16. Web site: Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today . . 22 August 2020 . 8 February 2022.
  17. Web site: Minor League Cricket Draft results with 15 Squads Selected . . 24 August 2020 . 8 February 2022.
  18. Web site: USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan . . 15 October 2020 . 9 February 2022.
  19. Web site: American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend . . 29 July 2021 . . 9 February 2022.
  20. Web site: Dramatic Finishes Highlight Historic Minor League Cricket Championship Opening Weekend . . . 5 August 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  21. Web site: The Monday All Rounder - Week Two . . . 9 August 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  22. Web site: Minor League Cricket Week 3 Wrap: Irving Mustang's Corey Anderson . Smit . Patel . Cricbuzz . 16 August 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  23. Web site: The Monday All Rounder - Week Four . . . 23 August 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  24. Web site: The Monday All Rounder - Week Five . . . 30 August 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  25. Web site: Minor League Cricket Week 6 Wrap: Playoffs race intensifies with 2 weekends to go . Smit . Patel . 9 September 2021 . Cricbuzz . 9 February 2022.
  26. Web site: The Monday All Rounder - Week Seven . . . 13 September 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  27. Web site: Minor League Cricket Week 8: Rovman Powell hits 38-ball 71 . Ravinder . Madhavaram . 23 September 2021 . Cricbuzz . 9 February 2022.
  28. Web site: Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship . . . 5 May 2022 . 10 May 2022.
  29. Web site: HOMETOWN DALLAS MUSTANGS WIN 2023 SUNOCO MINOR LEAGUE CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP – Minor League Cricket News . 2023-10-18 . news.minorleaguecricket.com.
  30. Web site: Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix. 5 August 2021. ESPNcricinfo. en.
  31. Web site: Teams and Venues Set for Inaugural Minor League Cricket Playoffs . . 20 September 2021 . 23 September 2021.
  32. Web site: Minor League Cricket Season 3 gets underway after MLC's success . Smit . Patel . August 4, 2023 . . March 3, 2024.
  33. Web site: Cricket is on a fast track in America: Tom Dunmore . Zofeen . Maqsood . 20 September 2021 . American Bazaar . 24 October 2021.