Sir Garry Sobers, West Indies legend, dies at 89

Sir Garfield Sobers, who is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of the 20th century and one of the greatest all-rounder in the history of the game has died at the age of 89.

Sobers was known as a national hero in Barbados and a West Indies legend who excelled as a batter, bowler in three different styles, and outstanding fielder.

He was also the first player to hit six sixes in one over in a professional match while playing for Nottinghamshire, making him one of cricket’s most complete and versatile players.

Sir Garfield announced himself as a batting great in 1958 when, at just 21 years old, he scored an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan, breaking the longstanding Test record for the highest individual score.

He followed that with five more centuries in his next five Tests and developed into the world’s leading all-rounder during the 1960s.

Sobers also enjoyed successful league cricket spells in England and played for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

During his time in England, he was involved in a car crash that claimed the life of his West Indies teammate Collie Smith, after which Sobers was fined for careless driving.

After succeeding Frank Worrell as West Indies captain in 1965, Sir Garfield led the team to a 3-1 Test series victory over England in 1966, scoring 722 runs, including three centuries, and taking 20 wickets.

Sobers later captained Rest of the World teams against England and Australia after South Africa was excluded from international sport because of apartheid. He faced criticism for playing in a 1970 tournament in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), but later apologised.

Renowned for his outstanding batting, Sobers earned praise from Donald Bradman, who called his 1972 double century in Melbourne as “probably the greatest exhibition of batting ever seen in Australia.”

Sobers also captained Nottinghamshire from 1968 to 1974, becoming a fan favourite and producing some of the most memorable moments of his career there.

After stepping down as West Indies captain, Sir Garfield Sobers played two more Test series before retiring from first-class cricket in 1974.

Although he had little opportunity to play one-day cricket, he finished his Test career with 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78, including 26 centuries, and took 235 wickets, cementing his reputation as one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders.
Sobers was knighted in 1975 and later named a National Hero of Barbados. He also coached Sri Lanka in the early 1980s and remained active in golf.

In 1994, Brian Lara broke Sobers’ long-standing Test record of 365 not out, with Sobers personally congratulating him on the field.

Sobers received numerous honours, including having the ICC World Player of the Year award named after him, induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, and recognition as one of Wisden’s five greatest cricketers of the 20th century. He is remembered worldwide as one of the greatest players in cricket history.