Brian Hall, the Western Stars all-rounder, has been challenged to make a bigger contribution with the bat after struggling for runs in the Logic Premier Division this season.

In the absence of several key batsman in last weekend’s 121-run defeat against Southampton Rangers at St John’s Field, Hall was promoted to No 3 but was caught for one by Gerald Simons off the bowling of Janeiro Tucker.

Wendell Smith, the Stars coach, is a huge admirer of Hall’s talents and infectious enthusiasm but believes he is presently being short-changed by one of his most experienced players.

“Brian is a very capable batsman, but so far this season he hasn’t been delivering,” Smith said.

“He’s come good only once against Devonshire Rec [scoring 60] and we need him to do far better.”

Smith believes Hall is too easily tempted into playing big shots and must learn to curb his natural attacking instincts, at least at the start of his innings.

“The truth about Brian is every week he’s getting out the same way and as a coach I’m kind of speechless,” Smith said.

“The opposition seem to know what he’ll do and they use a long on and long off, pitch it up, and let him go for a six. He’ll either hit one or two sixes, or get out.

“As a coach you can only tell a player so many times. I’m lost for words what to do with him because he continues to do what he wants and plays big shots early.”

With Justin Robinson, the team’s captain, Treadwell Gibbons Jr, Makai Young and Ian Armstrong all missing against Rangers, Stars’ often brittle batting was even more fragile than normal.

As one of the senior players in a youthful-looking team, Hall had been expected to provide some backbone to Stars’ depleted line-up, but lasted just five balls as his team were all out for 52 off 27.4 overs.

“When you’re missing your key batsmen you need those players you have to be performing,” he said.

“Losing Brian so quickly was a big blow, He went in at No 3 and I said to him, ‘Brian, we need you today and you have to bat for the team. Six minutes later he got out.”

Hall, who picked up the Emerging Player of the Year award as Stars won promotion last season, has continued his good form with the ball and took two wickets for 24 against Rangers.

Smith said he was delighted with Hall’s off spin and praised him for continuing to set a superb example to the younger players with his approach to training.

He is part of Bermuda’s training squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament, scoring 54 not out in a trial match at Lord’s last month, although Smith said Hall needs to be more consistent to become a Bermuda regular.

“His bowling has been superb again this season and he’s a very underrated bowler,” said Smith, whose brother Clay is the Bermuda coach.

“He has all-round ability with his bowling, batting and fielding. However, these guys have to realise that you can only get picked based on your performances.

“He’s training record is excellent and Bermuda would be in a far better situation if we had more players with his dedication.

“I think batting wise he could struggle to make the Bermuda team because if you’re not producing at the club level how will you make the national team.

“Last season Brian had a wonderful season with the bat and I know he expected to get more runs this season.

“A lot of it is down to improving his mental application to batting and playing the right shots at the right time.”

Stars could be without top batsman Gibbons until Cup Match after he sustained an injury at home.

n This weekend’s Premier Division games have been postponed to allow players to attend Fiqre Crockwell’s funeral.

The St David’s cricketer was shot dead on June 20 in Pembroke.