Legendary West Indies Cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers Dies at 89 Sir Garfield Sobers, a legendary all-rounder for the West Indies, has died at the age of 89. Regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Sobers played 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs and taking 235 wickets. A left-handed batter, he famously scored 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, a record that stood for 36 years. He was also a versatile bowler, capable of both spin and seam deliveries. Sobers represented his home island of Barbados, the West Indies, Nottinghamshire, and South Australia. He made his first-class debut for Barbados at 16 and was capped by the West Indies at 17. Initially more successful as a bowler, he later became a prolific batter, scoring 26 Test centuries and finishing his career with a batting average of 57.78. His first-class career yielded 28,314 runs, including 7,041 for Nottinghamshire, and he took 1,043 first-class wickets. During his time with Nottinghamshire in 1968, Sobers became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a first-class match. He was knighted in 1975 for his services to cricket and named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century. His career spanned a transformative era for West Indies cricket, and he captained the team from 1965 to 1972. He also led Rest of the World XIs during tours of England and Australia. Sobers’ passing prompted tributes from cricketing circles. Cricket West Indies president Kishore Shallow called him “the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen,” emphasizing his mastery of batting, bowling, and fielding. Shallow noted that Sobers’ achievements extended beyond the field, as he became a symbol of Caribbean resilience and possibility.#west_indies #cricket_west_indies #barbados #nottinghamshire #sir_garfield_sobers
