Wes Hall facts for kids

Sir Wesley Winfield Hall (born 12 September 1937) is a famous former Barbadian cricketer and politician. He was a tall, strong, and powerful fast bowler. Even with a very long run-up, he was known for bowling for a long time without getting tired.

Hall played 48 Test matches for the West Indies from 1958 to 1969. His partnership with fellow Barbadian Charlie Griffith was a key part of the strong West Indies teams in the 1960s. Wes Hall was very popular, especially in Australia. There, he played two seasons with the Queensland team.

He started as a wicket-keeper and batsman in school. Hall began fast bowling later in his career. He made his Test debut in 1958 against India and quickly became successful. In 1959, he made history by taking the first Test hat-trick for the West Indies in Pakistan. Hall bowled the final over in two famous Test matches. These included the exciting Tied Test against Australia in 1960. He also bowled the last over in the Lord's Test against England in 1963.

After his cricket career, Hall became involved in politics in Barbados. He served in both the Senate and House of Assembly. In 1987, he was made Minister of Tourism. He also helped manage West Indies cricket as a selector and team manager. From 2001 to 2003, he was President of the West Indies Cricket Board. Later, Hall became a minister in the Christian Pentecostal Church. He is a member of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and the West Indies Cricket Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was made a knight for his contributions to sports and the community.

Early Life and Cricket Start

Hall was born in Saint Michael, Barbados. He went to St Giles' Boys' School and then to the well-known Combermere School. At Combermere, he first played cricket as a wicketkeeper and batsman. The top schools in Barbados played against adult teams. This meant Hall experienced high-level cricket from a young age.

After school, Hall worked at a cable office in Bridgetown. He played for the Cable Office cricket team. This is where he started fast bowling. In one match, he filled in for an absent bowler. He took six wickets that day and decided bowling was his path to the West Indies team.

His talent was noticed quickly. In 1956, he joined the Barbados team. This was for a match against E. W. Swanton's XI. Hall was very young and new to the game. He didn't take any wickets in this match. However, Swanton saw his potential and called him a bowler of "great promise."

Based on this promise, Hall was chosen for the West Indies tour to England in 1957. He found it hard to play in the new conditions. He struggled to bowl accurately. Hall later said, "When I hit the softer wickets I was like a fish out of water." He did not play in any Test matches on this tour.

Test Cricket Career Highlights

First Test and Historic Hat-Trick

Hall was not originally picked for the West Indies team to tour India and Pakistan in 1958–59. But he was called in as a backup. He did well in an early match against Baroda, taking 5 wickets. This helped him become the main bowling partner for Roy Gilchrist in the Test team.

Hall made his debut in the first Test against India in Bombay. He was successful right away. He took the wickets of Indian opener Nari Contractor and two other batsmen. Hall finished with 3 wickets in the first innings. He and Gilchrist were a strong pair. They made it very hard for the Indian batsmen.

In his second Test, Hall led the West Indies bowling attack. He took 11 wickets in the match. The West Indies won the series against India. Hall and Gilchrist were a fearsome duo for the Indian team.

The West Indies did not do as well against Pakistan. However, Hall bowled well in both matches. In the third Test in Lahore, Hall made history. He became the first West Indian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket. He dismissed Mushtaq Mohammad, Nasim-ul-Ghani, and Fazal Mahmood.

Hall continued to perform well when England toured the West Indies in 1959–60. He was seen as the biggest threat to England. Hall almost won the third Test for West Indies. He took five wickets on the first day. He finished the innings with 7 wickets for 69 runs. This was his best bowling in Test cricket.

In April 1960, Hall started playing professionally for Accrington Cricket Club in England. He was very successful there. He took over 100 wickets in each of his three seasons. He even took all 10 wickets in an innings twice.

Success in Australia and Popularity

The 1960–61 Test series against Australia is one of the most famous in cricket history. Hall played a big part in it. The first Test in Brisbane had a thrilling finish. Hall took early wickets, putting Australia in trouble.

The West Indies captain, Frank Worrell, trusted Hall to bowl the final over. Australia needed four runs to win, and West Indies needed three wickets. In an incredibly exciting finish, the match ended in a tie. This was the first tie in Test cricket history.

Hall bowled well in the second Test in Melbourne. He took 4 wickets in the first innings. The pitches in the later Tests favored slower bowling. Still, the Australian public loved the West Indies team. Hall and his teammates were given a huge ticker-tape parade in Melbourne. Hundreds of thousands of Australians came out to cheer for them. Hall later said it was like a welcome "reserved for royalty or the Beatles."

Because of his popularity, Hall was invited to play for Queensland in Australia. He had a very successful season in 1961–62. He took 43 wickets, a new record for a Queensland bowler. He returned for a second season, taking 33 wickets. Playing cricket all year round started to wear him out. He decided not to return for a third season.

Dominance in England

After his first season in Australia, Hall returned to the West Indies. He joined the team for their Test series against India in 1962. Hall continued his strong performance against India. The West Indies won the series 5-0. Hall took 27 wickets.

In the second Test, Hall bowled brilliantly. He took 6 wickets for 49 runs. This helped West Indies win by an innings. In the fourth Test, Hall also scored 50 runs. He then took the first five wickets of India's innings. These efforts helped him become the No. 1 ranked Test bowler in 1962.

Hall and his fast bowling partner, Griffith, were highly anticipated in England for the 1963 Test series. The West Indies won the series 3-1. Hall took 16 wickets and was a great support to Griffith. Together, they were the main attraction and key to victory.

Film analysis from this time showed Hall bowling at 103 miles per hour (166 km/h). With Griffith bowling from the other end, batsmen had nowhere to hide.

One of Hall's best performances was in the second Test at Lord's. On the last day, Hall bowled for over three hours without stopping. Like in the Tied Test, Hall bowled the final over with both teams still able to win. He bowled 40 overs in total, taking 4 wickets. Despite his amazing effort, England managed to draw the match. The Times newspaper praised Hall's "astonishing energy" and "inexhaustible stamina." Hall himself called it his "finest hour."

Later Career and Retirement

The Australian tour of the West Indies in 1964–65 saw Hall start strongly. In the first Test, he took 5 wickets in the first innings and 4 in the second. This helped West Indies win. However, he was not as effective in the rest of the series. West Indies still won the series, their first Test series win against Australia.

The West Indies toured England again in 1966. Hall's bowling was not as powerful as it had been in 1963. He took 18 wickets in five Tests. Still, he was considered a key part of the West Indies attack. His best moment was in the fourth Test. There, his fast bowling helped destroy England's team. This win secured the series for the West Indies.

In 1966, Hall signed a contract to promote youth cricket in Trinidad and Tobago. He also played for the Trinidad and Tobago team. He helped start the Wes Hall Youth Cricket League for young players.

Hall toured India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) with the West Indies team in 1966–67. He injured his knee early in the tour. The pitches also made it hard for him to bowl fast. His performance was not as strong as in earlier series.

By the home series against England in 1967–68, Hall's effectiveness as a Test bowler was declining. He still bowled with enthusiasm. But the England batsmen scored many runs against him and Griffith. Hall took only 9 wickets in four Tests.

The West Indies captain, Garry Sobers, had to fight to get Hall included in the West Indies team for the 1968–69 tour. The selectors thought Hall was "past his best." But Sobers insisted on his selection. Hall played in only two Tests in Australia. He played his last Test match against New Zealand in Auckland. He got injured and could not finish the match. He never played Test cricket again.

Life After Cricket

The Hall & Griffith Stand (left) at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown in 2000.

After his cricket career, Hall joined the Barbados team for a short tour of England. He played his last first-class match for Barbados in 1971.

In 1970, Hall helped start a program called SERVOL (Service Volunteered For All). This program helps poor people in Trinidad and Tobago. Hall and a priest walked through a dangerous neighborhood, asking residents how they could help. SERVOL now works across the Caribbean.

Hall has served West Indian cricket in many ways. He led the West Indies selection panel for several years. He also managed many West Indies touring teams. In 2001, Hall was elected president of the West Indies Cricket Board. As president, he helped bring the 2007 Cricket World Cup to the West Indies. He also created a system for players to negotiate their contracts. Hall stepped down in 2003 due to health reasons.

Hall studied Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management in London. He then worked as a manager for Cable and Wireless in Barbados. He also held important roles with other companies like Banks Barbados Brewery.

Hall became involved in politics in Barbados. He joined the Democratic Labour Party. He was first appointed to the Barbados Senate. Later, he was elected to the House of Assembly. In 1987, Hall was appointed Minister of Tourism and Sports. He is credited with helping develop sports tourism in Barbados.

In 1990, Hall became a Christian minister. He attended Bible school and was ordained in the Pentecostal Church. He famously ministered to fellow Barbadian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall when Marshall was ill.

Hall is a member of the West Indies Cricket Hall of Fame and the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in tourism. The University of the West Indies gave him an honorary degree in 2005. The Hall & Griffith Stand at Kensington Oval is named after him and Charlie Griffith. In 2012, he was knighted for his services to sport and the community.

Playing Style and Personality

Hall was a tall and strong cricketer, about 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall. He had a graceful bowling action and one of the longest run-ups in Test cricket. He was a truly fast bowler, measured at about 91 miles per hour (146 km/h). Hall could bowl fast for a very long time. During the Test against England at Lord's in 1963, he bowled for over three hours without stopping.

While Hall was an aggressive fast bowler, he did not try to hurt batsmen. The England cricketer Ted Dexter, who was hit by Hall several times, said there was "never a hint of malice" in Hall or his bowling. Hall himself felt bad when he accidentally fractured an Australian cricketer's jaw.

Hall was one of the most popular cricketers of his time. He was especially loved in Australia. When he returned to play for Queensland, a thousand people came to the airport to welcome him. Hall was known for his good humor. He was also famous for his entertaining speeches.