ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Wes Hall, the legendary former West Indies fast bowler, said Sunday the Stanford20 tournament had offered a new comprehensive approach to regional cricket.

Hall, speaking after being inducted into the Sticky Wicket West Indies Hall of Fame, said there were aspects of West Indies cricket that were ailing and noted the Twenty20 had brought innovative solutions.

"We feel that West Indies cricket needs a shot in the arm, it needs money to do what we have to do. We feel that we must have a structure. We feel that we cannot have an academy until you have a good structure for an academy without a good structure is ignorance on stilts," Hall, one of 13 past West Indies greats comprising the Stanford Twenty20 board, said.

VALUES

"We also feel that youngsters should understand they should have values. They must understand that they must perform commensurate with the money they are getting. They must understand there must be a work ethic and there is discipline. That's all the Twenty20 is about.

"That's all we are trying to help the West Indies Cricket Board with. We are saying that being a professional does not mean that you are getting paid, you are employed but you are getting paid for what you do - that you perform commensurate with your ability."

Hall, along with the late Three W Sir Clyde Walcott, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in a lavish ceremony at the Sticky Wicket facility here.

The former WICB president said the tournament had managed to utilise the strong administrative skills of the ex-players involved in the project.

CURIOUS PARADOX

"If a man (Sir Allen Stanford) can take 13 of the West Indies great cricketers and put them on his board because of their cricketing acumen to guide the process, I think that is a curious paradox - when West Indian people feel that our cricketers really are good coaches and commentators but not great administrators," Hall enunciated.

"It (Stanford Twenty20) is really a work of art. It is something that you would never envision that you see 13 ex-cricketers working harmoniously for the betterment of West Indies cricket."

Hall, who took 192 wickets in 48 Tests and sent down the final over in the famous 'Tied Test' at Brisbane in 1960, said he was elated to be finally part of the Hall of Fame.

Very happy

"I am very happy that I have been included in this wonderful Hall of Fame. In 1981 I was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Hartford, Connecticut - it was a great thing, I felt really good," the 69-year-old said.

"But you can imagine how I feel now here in Antigua at the Sticky Wicket, to be here with the wall at the Sticky Wicket festooned with great cricketing artists and I am in there with them. I thank God for that."