Today we say goodbye to a cricketing hero – Sir Garfield Sobers
When people talk about their sporting heroes, certain names immediately spring to mind. In boxing, it’s Muhammad Ali. In football, Pelé. And in cricket, one name is mentioned time and time again – Sir Garfield Sobers.
Sadly, I was never fortunate enough to see him play. I was simply born a little too late. But I have been lucky enough to meet him on several occasions, and every meeting only reinforced why he is regarded as one of the greatest sportsmen the world has ever seen.
It’s often said that statistics don’t tell the whole story, but Sir Garfield’s certainly help. In a remarkable international career for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974, he scored more than 8,000 Test runs at an average of 57.78, including 26 centuries. At the time of his retirement, he held the world record for the highest individual Test score – an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958.
Yet batting was only part of his genius. Sobers could bowl left-arm fast-medium, left-arm orthodox spin and left-arm wrist spin, often changing his style to suit the conditions and the batsman. Add to that his breathtaking fielding, and he was the complete cricketer. Many experts still regard him as the finest all-rounder the game has ever produced.
His achievements went beyond records. He captained the West Indies with distinction, played the game with flair and imagination, and inspired generations of cricketers around the world. Even today, whenever discussions turn to the greatest players of all time, Sir Garfield Sobers’ name is never far away.
For me, though, what stands out just as much is the man himself. Despite his legendary status, I have always found him approachable, friendly and generous with his time. Those brief conversations are memories I will always treasure.
In 2000, Sir Garfield was one of the five players chosen as Wisden’s Cricketers of the 20th Century. The other four were Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne and Sir Vivian Richards. To be mentioned in that company tells you everything you need to know about his place in cricket history.
My first meeting with Sir Garry came right at the beginning of what I do now. We spent well over an hour with him, and surprisingly, very little of the conversation was about cricket. Instead, we talked mainly about golf, another of his great passions. He also loved horse racing and enjoyed having a bet.
As we left the hotel, Sir Garry was walking towards a betting shop. I called out, “There’s a great horse running in the Irish Derby today called Jack Hobbs.”
He looked at me, burst out laughing, pointed his finger and, in that unmistakable Barbadian accent, replied, “He used to be a cricketer!”
It’s a memory that has stayed with me ever since. As I walked away, I remember thinking, “I wonder if anyone in that betting shop has any idea that one of the greatest cricketers of all time has just walked through the door?”
Some sporting heroes live only through old scorecards and black-and-white footage. Sir Garfield Sobers is one of those rare individuals whose reputation has only grown with time. I may never have seen him in action, but having had the privilege of meeting him, I completely understand why so many who did still describe him as the greatest cricketer they ever witnessed.
Rest in peace, Sir Garry. Thank you for the memories and for everything you gave to the game we all love.
All the best.
Gary
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