Review of USA Lecture

Review of Professor Jeff Hill's lecture on Cricket in the USA - 9 December, University of Huddersfield Cricket Research Centre

Cricket in America? Yes, said Jeff Hill as he traced the fascinating history of the sport in the USA and Canada. This historical overview was the prelude to a detailed analysis of Joseph O'Neill's novel Netherland - a story of cricketing dreams, hatched by a Trinidadian and Dutchman, in post-9/11 New York. Jeff's argument was that America should not be ignored when it comes to cricket and the book was used as significant evidence. He was particularly interested in the way in which cricket was a 'solace' for protagonist Hans.

Jeff's thoughts were both provocative and expertly delivered. The audience included cricket historian Jack Williams, Northumbria University cricket resaercher Dean Allen, Derek Barnard of The Cricket Society, former University of Huddersfield vice-chancellor Brendan Evans and a range of local cricketing folk including Andrew Smith (Illingworth CC), Bob Horne (Lightcliffe CC), Dave Walker (Old Almondburians CC), veteran local player Peter Dibb and several cricket enthusiasts from the Leeds area.