Cricket great Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89

LONDON: Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as one of cricket’s finest all-rounders, has died at the age of 89, West Indies Cricket announced on Friday.

The governing body confirmed the news in a post on X alongside a photograph of Sobers carrying the words ‘Legend. Icon. Hero’. In its message, West Indies Cricket said:

“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,”

Sobers represented the West Indies in 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974. Over that period, he scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and claimed 235 wickets at 34.03. His standing in the game was reflected in Wisden’s 1999 poll of 100 cricket experts, in which he and Australian great Donald Bradman were both selected among the publication’s Five Cricketers of the 20th Century. Sobers received 90 votes, while Bradman was backed by all 100.

Before his death in 2001, Bradman paid tribute to Sobers’ place in cricket history, saying:

“He is, in my opinion, the greatest cricketer of all time,”

Sobers is also remembered by many for becoming the first player to hit six sixes in a single over. The feat came against Glamorgan bowler Malcolm Nash while Sobers was playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire.

Tributes from around the cricket world

Nottinghamshire was among the teams and organisations to pay tribute after news of his death. The county described Sobers as cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounder and a towering figure in the club’s history. In a statement, the club said:

“We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers,”

England’s cricket authorities also paid tribute on social media, describing him as one of the greatest players the sport has seen. Their message added:

“Forever in our hearts, Sir Garfield Sobers,”

India’s cricket board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, also issued a statement mourning his death. The BCCI said:

“The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounders,”

It added:

“His extraordinary achievements, lasting influence on Caribbean cricket and immeasurable contribution to the global game have left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations,”

The BCCI also shared a video showing Sobers meeting Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and other Indian players during the West Indies tour in 2024.