Cricket

Cricket is used by O'Neill as a symbol of Hans' status as an outsider in America, but also to provide a sense of the inclusivity Hans comes to feel whilst living in post-9/11 New York. Early in the novel he describes how he is the only white person on his team, and how, nevertheless, he came to be accepted by his team mates due to their shared passion for cricket. Cricket is also an increasingly important part of the structure of his life during his separation from Rachel, during which he begins to play twice every weekend, and finds a kind of emotional support in his team. This support is shown through the episode Hans tells about a team mate, Shiv, whose wife leaves him, and who the team takes care of, fearing he might kill himself; though Hans was never suicidal, he reflects that his...