Sir Garfield Sobers, greatest all-rounder, dies aged 89, West Indies Cricket announces
Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as one of cricket’s finest all-rounders, has died aged 89, West Indies Cricket announced on Saturday morning AEST.
Known for his aggressive top-order batting, medium pace bowling and spin ability and excellent fielding, Sobers represented the West Indies in 93 Tests in an international career that spanned two decades from 1954 to 1974.
Born in Bridgetown, Barbados, with an extra finger on each hand, Sobers hit 26 Test centuries and had a Test average of 57.78, with both graceful and powerful innings. He was also an all-round bowler; He was dangerous with both wrist spin and fast-medium throws.
The sobers had a lot of records. His unbeaten score of 365 (his first test century) against Pakistan in 1958 was the record score for 36 years before countryman Brian Lara improved it. He was also the first player to reach 8000 runs in Test cricket and hit six sixes in one over in a first-class game.
Sobers has been named as one of the five leading cricketers of the 20th century. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac, Including Australians Don Bradman and Shane Warne.
Sobers was second only to Bradman, who said of the player in 1988: “I have no hesitation in saying that Garry Sobers is the best all-round cricketer I have ever seen.”
More to come
Reuters/AP
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