Famous Cricketers No 61 - Wes Hall

INTRODUCTION Wesley Hall was one of the finest ambassadors spawned by the game of cricket. He was immensely popular wherever he played, even though his thunderbolts occasionally threatened local batsmen with instant decapitation. His infectious enthusiasm made him such a friendly foe that even Colin McDonald, the courageous Australian opening batsman who suffered most at his hands during the memorable tour of 1960/61, still cherishes fond memories of him. Hall was the greatest fast bowler produced by the West Indies in that long period (1935-1975) between the decline of Emmanuel ‘Mannie’ Martindale and the maturation of Anderson Roberts. He left a huge impact on Australian and English as well as Caribbean cricket and became the role model for many an aspiring speedster. The great Australian fast bowler, Dennis Lillee, for instance, tried his best to pattern his style after Hall’s. As is the case with most West Indians, however, there is not a great deal of literature on this outstanding cricketer. Apart from an autobiography, Pace Like Fire , which appeared in 1966 before Hall’s playing career was over, one searches in vain for published information about him. The best that one can find is an entry in 100 Years of Organised Cricket 1892-1992 with which the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) celebrated an important milestone a few years ago. This monograph is meant therefore to fill an unfortunate void in cricket literature. Wes Hall was not only a fine bowler, but he proved himself a successful manager of touring teams after his retirement. He also made significant contributions to Barbadian political life by serving for many years as a member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) cabinet. As the Minister for Sport, he performed his tasks with the same verve and panache which he displayed on the cricket field. He obviously merits inclusion in the ACS ‘Famous Cricketers’ club. 4