Tony Becca, Senior Sport EditorSUNDAY'S VICTORY by the West Indies over Sri Lanka has been described by Board president, Rev Wes Hall, as the greatest day of his life.
The West Indies defeated Sri Lanka in three days by seven wickets at Sabina Park to win the two-match series 1-0 and speaking at a function hosted by the Pegasus Hotel in his honour a few hours later, Hall, the great fast bowler who took a hat-trick in Test cricket, who bowled the last over in the exciting tied Test at Brisbane in 1960-61, the last over in the thrilling draw at Lord's in 1963, and who finished his career of 48 Test matches with 192 wickets, said nothing in his life compared with that performance.
Hall, a Barbadian and president of the WICB for the past two years, will not be seeking re-election later this month, the Pegasus Hotel, through general manager Eldon Bremner, presented him with a room key, which guarantees him complimentary accommodation whenever he is in Jamaica.
ELOQUENT MANNER
West Indies captain Brian Lara presented him with a gift on behalf of the players, and after thanking them for their generosity in his usual eloquent manner, he said he had something else to say.
Looking at the audience, which included the Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, and the Prime Minister of St. Kitts/Nevis, Denzil Douglas, Hall said: "I just need to say to every one of you that today's victory really is the greatest day in my cricketing life, and when really thinking of the wars that I have fought, when you really think of the good times that I have had, I think that is a mouthful.
"We have always had talent in the West Indies. It is what we do with talent that is important. However, how you harness it, and I would just like to congratulate Sir Vivian Richards and his fellow selectors for the courage to invest in our young players, captain Brian Lara for his leadership of these young players, and manager Ricky Skerritt for the job he has been doing.
TURNED THE CORNER
"Two years ago I said that when we find two or three fast bowlers we will beat the world. One year ago I said that we have turned the corner and when I look at these baby-faced fast bowlers - some of whom are so inexperienced, when I look at their performance in this Test match, when I look at young (Jermaine) Lawson, I know that we have found them and that it won't be long before we do just that."
The presentation on behalf of the hotel was made by Director of Sales and Marketing, Mrs. Prudence Simpson. Bremner said Hall was one of the hotel's favourite guests over the years and hailed him as a great man and a humble man.
"We at the Jamaica Pegasus want him to know that we love him, that we wish him well, that we look forward to his continued support of West Indies cricket and that he will always be welcomed here," said Bremner.
In a short speech before making his presentation, Lara, a happy Lara, said that even in the years when he was having a problem and his critics were getting at him, Hall was always there for him, and he thanked him for that and for encouraging him to come back as captain.
