When India and Australia played cricket in Los Angeles

When cricket steps back onto the Olympic stage at LA 2028, it will mark the sport’s first Summer Games appearance in 128 years, marking a significant chapter in the history of the sport.

For many, it may feel like cricket’s big arrival in Los Angeles.

However, the City of Angels has flirted with cricket in the past, long before the Olympic spotlight came calling.

There’s documentation that cricket has been played in LA since 1888. However, the first time cricket in LA came under the global spotlight was in 1999.

India vs Australia in Hollywood city

That Summer, Los Angeles - better known for the Dodgers baseball and LA Lakers basketball teams - traded in the curveballs and the dunks for the cover drive.

The protagonists formally introducing cricket to a nation and city obsessed with baseball, basketball and American football, among other sports, were Australia A and India A as they competed in a five-match List A (50-over match) series on a rather dodgy pitch.

Both squads comprised several players who would go on to become cricketing stars.

Australia A, led by Adam Gilchrist, featured the likes of Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds and Brad Hodge - all of whom became World Cup winners in the future.

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