Sir Garfield Sobers, the West Indies all-rounder widely regarded as the greatest cricketer of the 20th century, has died aged 89.
A national hero of Barbados, Sobers was chosen as one of the five leading cricketers of the 1900s. His Test career spanned 20 years, during which he redefined what it meant to be an all-rounder. Decades before the term 'multi-dimensional' entered the coaching manual, Sobers could bat left-handed with ferocious power, bowl in three distinct styles – left-arm fast-medium, orthodox spin and wrist-spin – and field with athletic brilliance. 'He was a captain's dream – effectively five cricketers in one,' noted BBC Sport.
“West Indies cricket great Sir Garfield Sobers dies aged 89, leaving a legacy as arguably the best all-rounder.”
Born Garfield St Aubrun Sobers in Bridgetown on 28 July 1936, he lost his merchant seaman father in the Second World War when he was just five. His mother Thelma raised half-a-dozen children alone. Young Garry was born with an extra finger on each hand, which were removed during childhood.
He made his first-class debut at 16 against the Indian tourists at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown – the ground whose pavilion now bears his name. Bowling spin, he took four wickets in the first innings and three in the second. Fourteen months later, with only one other first-class appearance behind him, he debuted for the West Indies as a 17-year-old against England in Jamaica after regular left-arm spinner Alf Valentine fell ill. Again, he took four wickets.
Elevated to number six in the batting order against Australia in 1955, Sobers soon displayed his all-round quality. In 1958, he scored 365 not out in an innings against Pakistan, setting a new record for the highest individual Test score. It stood for 36 years.
After retiring, Sobers was knighted. He also played county cricket for Nottinghamshire, where he became the first man to hit six sixes in a single over in a professional game.
His death marks the end of an era. For the Caribbean, for cricket lovers worldwide, the man who could do it all is gone.
