National Election
Barbadian Orville Hall, who began playing the game of cricket at an early age in his native island, and developed into becoming a respected (wicketkeeper/batsman), before migrating to the U.S. where he has established himself as a top administrator of the game, was recently inducted in the Cricket Hall of Fame in Hartford, Connecticut.
Orville Hall had name himself as a candidate for USACA presidency.
On his arrival in the U.S. in 1972, Hall promptly joined New Rochelle Cricket Club in New York and was instrumental in helping the club to win the American Cricket League’s championship trophy in a low-scoring game in 1973, when they defeated strong rivals, Sportsmen’s Athletic Club of Hartford, Connecticut. Hall, who top-scored 36 not out, was named “Man of the Match.” This was the beginning of his cricketing career in the U.S.
He later went on to become president of New Rochelle Cricket Club. He then moved on to become secretary and subsequent president of the American Cricket League. Hall who was also at the helm as president of Casablanca Cricket Club and Somerset Sport Club, both located in Brooklyn, was the team manager, public relations manager and chairman of the Barbados cricket team which participated in the New York Red Stripe Cup competition which, for several years, was the top competition in New York, that had teams representing Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Windward Islands and Leeward Islands.
Because of his eloquent demeanor, over the years, he was called upon to act as master of ceremonies at various cricket functions. His rising star was noticed by the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), and as a result president Gladstone Dainty appointed him Public Relations Manager of the association. Two years later he was promoted as manager of the U.S.A senior cricket team. During this time, the United States Youth Cricket Association was in the process of being formed. Being at the forefront, Hall was instrumental in helping to draft its constitution and when the first elections were called, he was elected as the Public Relations Director, a position which he still holds.
Along the way, Hall still found time to host his own radio sports program “On the Ball,” which was heard every Sunday evening on WKDM radio 1380 in New York. He also reported on several overseas cricket tournaments for WLIB radio 1190 in New York and had an extended stint as a senior sports reporter for WNWK 105.9 FM. Hall’s latest venture on the airwaves was with One Caribbean Radio in New York, where he read the sports news for Don Bobb, Jeff Barnes and Bob Fredericks.
Hall is the president of the Caribbean American Social Club of Lehigh Acres (CASCOLA), and was appointed, by Lee County Commissioner, Frank Mann, to the advisory board of Parks and Recreation in Lee County, Florida. He was recently elected as second vice president of the Community Council of Lehigh Acres.
Hall is the recipient of several citations and awards for his sterling commitment to covering sports in the New York Tri-State area, throughout the Caribbean and also in Florida. Hall, who is employed as a Senior Budget Analyst for a major corporation in Danbury, Connecticut, is currently assisting some of the young cricketers in the USA with contract negotiations.
