Windies' Wesley Hall inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Kingston (Jamaica), June 12 (IANS) West Indies' former tearaway fast bowler Wesley Hall was inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame.

The induction raised the tally of cricketers from the Caribbean to 18 in an illustrious field of 80 players who have been bestowed with the prestigious award for their services to the sport.

Hall received his commemorative cap from fellow Hall of Famer Courtney Walsh during lunch on the opening day of the second Test between the West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park on Thursday. 

Also present at the ceremony were ICC Director and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron, Clive Lloyd and Everton Weekes.

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

"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. I am humbled to be included among these many greats of the game," said Hall.

"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 WICB, so I will treat this as something I value and will always remember," Hall said.

Born on September 12, 1937, in St. Michael, Barbados, Hall played 48 Tests from 1958 to 1969 in which he took 192 wickets, including five wickets in an innings nine times and 10 wickets in a match on one occasion. He is also the first West Indies bowler to claim a hat-trick.

After retirement, he became an ordained minister as well as the Minister of Tourism and Sport in Barbados. He also managed West Indies touring sides and in 2001 took over as the WICB president.