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Garry Sobers, the West Indies all-rounder regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, has died at the age of 89.
The Barbados-born player featured in 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, amassing 8,032 runs and taking 235 wickets.
“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” West Indies Cricket posted on X on Friday above a photograph of him titled “Legend, Icon, Hero.”
The versatile Sobers was an entertaining left-handed batter who could bowl spin and seam, and was an exceptional fielder.
He made his Test debut as a 17-year-old against England in 1954.
At the age of 21, Sobers broke Len Hutton’s record for the highest individual Test score by making 365 not out against Pakistan.
His record would last until another West Indian master, Brian Lara, made 375 against England in 1994, with Sobers on hand to celebrate.
The all-rounder averaged an impressive 57.78 with the bat and 34.03 with the ball in Test cricket.
He also captained West Indies in 39 Tests between 1965 and 1972, winning nine and losing 10.
In a career filled with extraordinary feats, Sobers became the first player to hit six sixes in one over in first-class cricket, off Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash when playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire.
He was honoured as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century alongside Australia great Donald Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Viv Richards and Shane Warne. The late Bradman paid the ultimate tribute to Sobers: “He is, in my opinion, the greatest cricketer of all time.”
‘TOWERING FIGURE’
West Indies CEO Chris Dehring described Sobers as a “towering figure whose influence on our game and our region can never be overstated.” “Sir Garfield was more than the greatest all-round cricketer the world has ever seen,” he said in a statement. “He was the embodiment of West Indies cricket at its finest — bold, brilliant, innovative and unapologetically excellent. His extraordinary achievements transformed the way the game was played and inspired generations of cricketers.”
Cricket West Indies President Kishore Shallow said Sobers would never be forgotten. “Sir Garfield Sobers has completed his final innings, but his legacy will forever endure in the hearts of our region, and the story of the cricketing world,” he wrote in a statement shared by Cricket West Indies.
“On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, the Government and people of Barbados and all those across the world who mourn his passing.”
Roston Chase, Hayley Matthews and Shai Hope, the three captains of the West Indies, remembered Sobers for his “brilliance, humility, and commitment,” reflecting on an influence that extended far beyond the boundaries of the cricket field.
“Sir Garry’s journey from Barbados to becoming the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen remains one of the most inspiring stories in the history of our game,” the three skippers said in a joint statement.
Former West Indies captain Brian Lara paid tribute to Sobers, wishing strength to his family to bear the irreplaceable loss. “Rest easy, legend. Your legacy will never be forgotten,” Lara said.
Nottinghamshire described their former player as “cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounder” and an iconic figure in the club’s history.
International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah said the sport had lost “one of its icons.”
“Sir Garfield Sobers was not only the finest all-rounder the game has ever known, but one of the greatest cricketers in history,” he said in a statement. “His remarkable ability to influence a match in every facet of the game set him apart from his peers.”
England Cricket posted on X: “One of the greatest to ever play the game. Forever in our hearts, Sir Garfield Sobers.”
Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott described Sobers as “like a panther with a purposeful, loping and confident walk”.
“I just loved the way Garry walked out to bat,” he wrote in the Telegraph.
“He didn’t say anything. He did not need to. There was no ego. His walk let the opposition know he was there for business.”
Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain and a member of the country’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, said it was “probably the saddest day for the game of cricket.”
“The greatest cricketer to walk the earth has left us,” he said in a statement. “No words can ever do justice to Sir Garfield Sobers the cricketer. He was everything we dream of becoming when we pick up the bat or the ball as kids.”
India batting great Sachin Tendulkar hailed Sobers as the “One and Only.” “I’ve been looking back at the memories we shared over the years … He was always so exceptionally gracious,” Tendulkar said.
India veteran Virat Kohli said cricket has “lost one of its greatest.” “Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations,” Kohli wrote on social media.
Cricket boards around the world also paid tribute to the Barbadian, with the game’s administrators in Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka calling Sobers one of the greats of the game.
“His unparalleled achievements and enduring contribution to the game have inspired generations of cricketers across the globe,” International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah wrote on X.
At county level, Sobers enjoyed a distinguished career with Nottinghamshire, scoring 7,041 runs, including 18 centuries, and taking 281 wickets.
He also played three seasons for South Australia, becoming the leading run scorer and wicket taker in the 1963-64 Sheffield Shield competition. Sobers scored 26 test centuries during his international career. His unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958 stood as the highest individual score in test cricket until Lara surpassed it in 1994.
Agence France-Presse / Reuters
