{{Short description|Cricket ground}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox cricket ground | ground_name = Sepulveda Basin Cricket Fields | nickname = Woodley Cricket Fields | image = Leo Magnus Cricket Complex sign.jpg | caption = Sepulveda Basin Cricket Fields (Woodley Park) | country = United States | location = [[Van Nuys, Los Angeles]], [[California]] | coordinates = {{coord|34|10|53.14|N|118|28|32.36|W|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=it}} | establishment = {{start date and age|1980}} | seating_capacity = 5,000 | owner = [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] | operator = City of [[Los Angeles]] Dept. of Recreation and Parks | tenants = Southern California Cricket Association, [[Los Angeles Lashings]], [[Los Angeles Cricket]] | end1 = North End<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/unitedstatesofamerica/content/ground/59413.html|title=Woodley Cricket Field &#124; United States of America &#124; Cricket Grounds &#124; ESPNcricinfo.com|website=Cricinfo}}</ref> | end2 = South End<ref name="auto"/> | club1 = Southern California Cricket Association | club2 = [[Los Angeles 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''') or Sepulveda Basin Cricket Fields, aka Woodley Park, is a group of four [[Ground (cricket)|cricket ground]]s located in the [[Van Nuys]] neighborhood of [[Los Angeles]], California, United States.<ref name="simunovich"/> The facility is also called '''Woodley Cricket Field(s)''' or '''Woodley Cricket Complex''' due to its location in [[Woodley Park (Los Angeles, California)|Woodley Park]].<ref name="laparks">{{cite web|url=http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/woodleyPk.htm|title=Woodley Park|accessdate=July 20, 2009|archive-date=July 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722020401/http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/woodleypk.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Former Jamaican [[Test cricket|Test cricketer]] [[Franklyn Rose]] has said of the complex: "It has the best cricket field facilities in the US. There is no comparison."<ref name="simunovich">{{cite web|title=USA's Best Cricket Grounds: The Leo Magnus Cricket Complex - Woodley Cricket Field in Van Nuys.|author=Peter Simunnovich|date=June 19, 2009|accessdate=June 28, 2013|publisher=DreamCricket|url=http://www.dreamcricket.com/dreamcricket/news.hspl?nid=11956&ntid=4}}</ref>

==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|Compton Cricket Club (formerly the Los Angeles Krickets)]] and the Sheenaway Serendipity Cricket Club.<ref name="simunovich"/> It first opened in 1975.

In 1978, the [[Equidome|Glendale Equestrian Center]] took over the [[Burbank, California|Burbank]]-area [[Griffith Park]] Cricket Association grounds, which had been home to L.A. cricket via the [[Hollywood Cricket Club]] since 1933.<ref name="simunovich"/> An active [[West Indian]] cricket community obtained land in the [[Sepulveda Basin]] in 1977<ref>{{cite web|title=A cricket mecca in an L.A. suburb|author=Amar Shah|publisher=ESPNLA.com|date=March 22, 2011|access-date=June 28, 2013|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/news/story?id=6210816}}</ref> 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.<ref name="simunovich"/>

In 1997, Woodley hosted the Jamaican team (featuring [[Jimmy Adams]] and Franklyn Rose) and in 1999 hosted a List A match between an [[India national cricket team|India A]] side (with [[VVS Laxman]]) against an [[Australia national cricket team|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 national cricket team|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards: Woodley Cricket Complex wins Claude Worrell Best Cricket Ground|author=Venu Palaparthi|publisher=DreamCricket|date=February 4, 2013|accessdate=May 2, 2014|url=http://www.dreamcricket.com/dreamcricket/news.hspl?nid=16865&ntid=4}}</ref>

In 2016 the [[International Cricket Council|International Cricket Council (ICC)]] held the [[2016 ICC World Cricket League Division Four|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/183318|title=ICC World Cricket League Division 4 Tournament confirmed in Los Angeles in October 2016|access-date=January 28, 2018|language=en}}</ref> The U.S. won the tournament by beating Oman in the Final and both were promoted to Division Three.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/17981905/2016-wcl-division-four-final-day-round-usa-hold-oman-13-runs-claim-tournament-title|title=USA hold off Oman to claim WCL Division Four title|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> [[Mick Jagger]] of [[the Rolling Stones]] stopped by to watch one of the U.S. matches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/usa/content/image/1064914.html?object=11&page=5&dir=next&|title=(Photo) The USA squad were graced by the presence of Sir Mick Jagger during the final at Woodley Park|website=Cricinfo|language=en|access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

* David Sentance, ''Cricket in America 1710-2000'' (McFarland Press 2006).

{{Van Nuys, Los Angeles}} {{Cricket in the United States}}

[[Category:1980 establishments in California]] [[Category:Cricket grounds in the United States]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1980]] [[Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles]] [[Category:Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area]] [[Category:Cricket in Los Angeles]]