Famous Cricketers No 61 - Wes Hall

Barbados has been named after them. Together they hunted with great success in two tours of England, reaching their peak in 1963 when Griffith claimed 32 Test wickets and Hall 16. The latter produced one of the most sustained spells of fast bowling ever witnessed at Lord’s when, as Wisden reports, he “bowled throughout the three hours, twenty minutes play was in progress on the last day, never losing his speed and always being menacing”. He took 4 for 93 off 40 over overs in that innings which ended amidst great excitement, with England’s last pair at the crease needing only six runs to win and with Cowdrey (despite carrying his broken arm in a plastered cast and a protective sling) having gamely come out to join David Allen in the middle with two balls remaining. Hall enjoyed the status of a colossal folk hero in his native Barbados. Throughout the West Indies, indeed, he seemed to loom larger than life. This was perhaps because he and Griffith were the first pair of outstanding West Indian fast bowlers operating together since the days of Learie Constantine and ‘Mannie’ Martindale. Wes doubtlessly served as a source of inspiration to the dozens of superb fast bowlers who sprang up like mushrooms in the generation after his retirement. Since about 1970, an incredible succession of speedsters has appeared in Barbados alone. He left a telling influence on young Australians as well as Englishmen. It was in England, in fact, that Hall played the bulk of his cricket. Apart from his trips with West Indian sides in 1957, 1963 and 1966, he played professionally for Accrington in the Lancashire League during the early 1960s before spending the 1964 season with Great Chell in the North Staffordshire League. He exceeded 100 wickets in three successive summers for Accrington and was awarded the League’s Bowling Prize in 1962 when he snared 123 victims. He claimed 100 wickets (ave: 12.52) in his very first season for that club (1960) and performed even better in the following year with 106 wickets at an average cost of 11.28 runs each. His ‘devastating fast bowling’ did most to take Accrington to the top of the table that summer. The invaluable experience Hall gained in the Lancashire League stood him in very good stead when he bowled for the West Indies during their triumphant English tour of 1963. Like most fast bowlers in those days, however, he was a spent force by the time he reached the age of 30 and was but a shadow of his former self during his last few years on the first-class stage. After retiring, Hall continued to serve Caribbean cricket in one fashion and another. He managed a number of touring squads during the 1970s and 1980s when he succeeded in bringing out the best qualities in the West Indies who then appeared so invincible. He continued his good work on behalf of the game when he was a member of the Barbados cabinet. In fact, he remained directly involved with cricket during the period 1986-1994 when he held the post of Minister of Sport. After his resignation from the cabinet, he undertook the very difficult task of managing the West Indies teams to England in 1995 and to the sub-continent in the following winter. He returned to his new post as Director of Corporate Relations with Sandals International, Barbados, but was still elected one of the three West Indian Selectors at the WICB meeting late in 1996. Since retiring from the WICB in 1998, Hall has added another chapter to his multi-faceted career by becoming a minister of religion. He is now an ordained priest in the Methodist church and is well-known for his wise and witty sermons. Hall will, at the end of his days, have left two indelible images with Barbadians. He will always be remembered as a fiery fast bowler first and foremost. He had the capacity to bring thousands of spectators to their feet whether he was bowling at home or abroad. His extra-long, bounding run-up of 26 yards, with a gold chain dangling around his neck for good luck, was a sight to behold. He was one of the most feared, and yet respected and loved, of all fast bowlers. There was, about Wes, none of that visible malevolence which characterized the activity of such fast bowlers as Charlie Griffith and Dennis Lillee. There was always the air of boyish innocence about him that allowed batsmen to feel that he would never have deliberately attempted to intimidate them. All he ever appeared to wish to do was to bowl as fast as he physically could. And then there is the image of the successful politician. Wes Hall was as popular in the political arena as he was on the cricket field. His quick wit and sense of fun often reduced the national Senate (which he graced from 1981 to 1986) or the House of Assembly 8