Windies bowling great Wes Hall inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former West Indies bowling great Wes Hall was on Friday inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

Hall received his commemorative cap from fellow West Indian legend and ICC Cricket Hall of Famer, Courtney Walsh, during the lunch break on the opening day of the second cricket Test between the West Indies and Australia at the Sabina Park.

Also present at the ceremony were ICC Director and West Indies Cricket Board President Dave Cameron, Clive Lloyd and Sir Everton Weekes.

Hall is the fourth cricketer this year to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame after Betty Wilson, Anil Kumble and Martin Crowe, who were inducted earlier this year during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Out of 80 players in total, West Indian now have 18 cricketers who have been given this prestigious award for their contribution to the sport.

Commenting on the honour, Hall said; “I feel privileged and indeed honoured to be given this tremendous award. I have noted the list and it has some tremendous cricketers -- heroes who have made the game what it is today. So, I am humbled to be included among these many greats of the game.

“Anytime you get these kind of encomiums, it is memorable. It is fantastic to receive the award in the West Indies and in front of adoring fans, which makes it even more special. I have represented the West Indies as a cricketer, as the team manager, and as the President of the WICB, so I will treat this as something I value and will always remember.

“Fast bowling was my hallmark and I enjoyed my moments on the cricket field. I enjoyed representing the people of the West Indies and contributing towards the development of the game and the region. Cricket has been extremely good to me and I was happy to give back to the game. This honour, presented to me by the ICC, is one I will cherish. It is not just for me but for the people of the West Indies.”

Hall played 48 Tests from 1958-69 and claimed 192 wickets.

After retirement, he become an ordained minister as well as the Minister of Tourism and Sport in the Barbados government. He also managed West Indies touring sides and in 2001 took over as the President of the West Indies Cricket Board.