Cricket

President Hunte congratulates Wes Hall on knighthood

St John’s, Antigua – President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte has sent congratulations to the legendary former West Indies fast bowler and WICB President, Rev Wes Hall, following the announcement of his knighthood.

The Government of Barbados, announced today, that Hall has been made a Knight Bachelor as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

“There are few in West Indies cricket who could be more deserving of such an illustrious honour as Wes Hall,” President Hunte said.

“Wes has been a true and unwavering servant of cricket who fought for equality for West Indies on and off the field,” Dr. Hunte observed.

“He laboured for our game and our people because of his love for cricket and West Indians and so diverse are his talents and skills that he has also served Barbados and the region in politics, religion and as a widely acclaimed and ever-popular speaker,” Dr. Hunte noted.

“Today the West Indies cricket family stand with extreme pride in saluting our treasured icon as he receives this most esteemed recognition for his contribution to sport and community,” Dr Hunte said.

Sir Wesley, as he will formally be known, played in 48 Tests from 1958 to 1969 and following his illustrious on-field career, the affable Hall served as West Indies Team Manager and Selector. He was elected President of the WICB in 2001 and served until 2003.

Hall is the second former WICB president to be knighted after the late Sir Clyde Walcott.

Hall, 74, started his cricket as a wicket-keeper and excelled at Combermere

School in his native Barbados. He later went on to be become one of the most feared fast bowlers of his era and one of the most popular and affable cricketers in the world. He is a true Caribbean man and represented both Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago in the regional First Class competition.

The famed fast bowler took 192 wickets and was first West Indian to take hat-trick in Test cricket, a feat he achieved against India on his debut in 1958.

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