Leo Magnus Cricket Complex Explained

Ground Name:Leo Magnus Cricket Complex
Nickname:Woodley Cricket Fields
Country:United States
Coordinates:34.1814°N -118.4757°W
Establishment:1980
Owner:Army Corps of Engineers
Operator:City of Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks
Tenants:Southern California Cricket Association, SoCal Lashings, Los Angeles Cricket
Fields:Severn Field (SCCA), Wright Field (SCCA), Wong Field (SCCA), Marder Field (LAC)
End1:North End[1]
End2:South End
Year1:1980
Club1:Southern California Cricket Association
Club2:SoCal Lashings
Club3:Los Angeles Cricket
International:true
Firstwt20idate:September 4
Firstwt20iyear:2023
Firstwt20ihome:United States
Firstwt20iaway:Argentina
Lastwt20idate:September 11
Lastwt20iyear:2023
Lastwt20ihome:United States
Lastwt20iaway:Canada
Date:September 11, 2023
Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/59413.html Cricinfo

The Leo Magnus Cricket Complex (LMCC) is a group of four cricket grounds located in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. The facility is also called Woodley Cricket Field(s) or Woodley Cricket Complex due to its location in Woodley Park.[2] Former Jamaican Test cricketer Franklyn Rose has said of the complex: "It has the best cricket field facilities in the US. There is no comparison."[3]

History

The cricket complex is named after Leo "Jingles" Magnus, a Jamaican cricketer who also played for the University Cricket Club and coached the Compton Cricket Club (formerly the Los Angeles Krickets) and the Sheenaway Serendipity Cricket Club.[3] It first opened in 1975.

In 1978, the Glendale Equestrian Center took over the Burbank-area Griffith Park Cricket Association grounds, which had been home to L.A. cricket via the Hollywood Cricket Club since 1933.[3] An active West Indian cricket community obtained land in the Sepulveda Basin in 1977[4] and two fields at Woodley opened in 1980 (named the Clifford Severn and Ernie Wright grounds), with two more added in 1996 (the Jean Wong and John Marder grounds (now under Los Angeles Cricket's, a 501 (c)(3), guardianship), both named for former Southern California Cricket Association presidents). The complex has a small stand, which can seat 50, and a clubhouse with bathrooms.[3]

In 1997, Woodley hosted the Jamaican team (featuring Jimmy Adams and Franklyn Rose) and in 1999 hosted a List A match between an India A side (with VVS Laxman) against an Australia A side (with Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist, and Andrew Symonds), which attracted a crowd of 5,000. In the 2000s, Twenty20 cricket became popular and Southern California Cricket Association President Vehman Reddy helped bring the Trinidad and Tobago side and Punjabi Blues to L.A. for three annual tournaments. The complex is frequently used for United States of America Cricket Association trials. The first American College Cricket west-coast regional championship took place at Woodley in 2010. The American Cricket Federation hosted its first Twenty20 tournament at Woodley in 2012.[5]

In 2016 the International Cricket Council (ICC) held the World Cricket League Division Four tournament at the LMCC. This was the first time an ICC WCL divisional event had been played in the United States.[6] The U.S. won the tournament by beating Oman in the Final and both were promoted to Division Three.[7] Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones stopped by to watch one of the U.S. matches.[8]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Woodley Cricket Field | United States of America | Cricket Grounds | ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo.
  2. Web site: Woodley Park. July 20, 2009.
  3. Web site: USA's Best Cricket Grounds: The Leo Magnus Cricket Complex - Woodley Cricket Field in Van Nuys.. Peter Simunnovich. June 19, 2009. June 28, 2013. DreamCricket.
  4. Web site: A cricket mecca in an L.A. suburb. Amar Shah. ESPNLA.com. March 22, 2011. June 28, 2013.
  5. Web site: 2012 New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards: Woodley Cricket Complex wins Claude Worrell Best Cricket Ground. Venu Palaparthi. DreamCricket. February 4, 2013. May 2, 2014.
  6. News: ICC World Cricket League Division 4 Tournament confirmed in Los Angeles in October 2016. January 28, 2018. en.
  7. News: USA hold off Oman to claim WCL Division Four title. ESPNcricinfo. January 28, 2018.
  8. Web site: (Photo) The USA squad were graced by the presence of Sir Mick Jagger during the final at Woodley Park. Cricinfo. en. January 28, 2018.