A book by a BU academic was shortlisted for the Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year Award.
, published by Peter Lang, was one of six books shortlisted for the award, which is presented annually at a dinner held at Lord鈥檚 Cricket Ground in London.聽聽
The author, Dr Rafaelle Nicholson, is Senior Lecturer in Sport and Sustainability in the Department of Sport and Event Management in the BU Business School.
Dr Nicholson is a leading researcher in the field of women鈥檚 sport history. Ladies and Lords offers the first ever academic study of women鈥檚 cricket in Britain from its origins in the 18th century to the present day.
Dr Nicholson said: 鈥淚t was an absolute honour to be shortlisted for this award. I am grateful to my colleagues at BU for providing the supportive research culture to ensure this book came to fruition.
鈥淪tanding at the front of the Long Room to talk about the book was an amazing experience, especially given that it documents women鈥檚 struggle to gain access to grounds like Lord鈥檚.鈥�
The Cricket Society Book of the Year Award has run since 1970, and is highly regarded by writers and publishers.聽This year, the event was held on 18 October, with聽Ashley Gray named winner for his book聽The Unforgiven, Mercenaries or Missionaries? The Untold Stories of the Rebel West Indian Cricketers who Toured Apartheid South Africa聽(Pitch Publishing).
Earlier in the year, Ladies and Lords was also shortlisted for the British Society of Sports History鈥檚 Lord Aberdare Literary Prize, which is awarded annually to the best book on any aspect of the history of sport in Britain or for the best book on any aspect of sports history written by a British author.
鈥淭he visibility of women鈥檚 cricket has grown enormously in recent years, but it鈥檚 important that we recognise the achievements of all the women who fought to get to where we are today,鈥� Dr Nicholson added.
鈥淚 hope my research has helped raise awareness of the long history of the sport.鈥�
