Widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history — Sir Garry Sobers could bat, bowl fast, bowl spin and field at the highest level. Held the world record Test score of 365 not out for 36 years, hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket and captained the West Indies with distinction. Sir Don Bradman called him the greatest cricketer he ever saw.
Sir Garfield St Auburn Sobers was born in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1936 and is universally regarded as the greatest all-round cricketer in the history of the sport — a player who would have been a world-class specialist in any of three disciplines: batting, seam bowling or spin bowling. He played 93 Tests for the West Indies from 1954 to 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at 57.78 with 26 centuries — the highest Test average by any player with more than 50 appearances for many years — and taking 235 wickets at 34.03. He played for Barbados domestically and Nottinghamshire in county cricket. His 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1958 was a world Test record that stood for 36 years until Brian Lara's 375 in 1994. In August 1968, batting for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, he hit all 6 balls of a Malcolm Nash over for six — the first player in first-class history to achieve this, a feat not repeated for many years. He captained the West Indies 39 times. He was knighted in 1975. He was named joint Wisden Cricketer of the Century in 2000. His ability to bowl orthodox left-arm spin, left-arm fast-medium and chinaman in the same innings made him a uniquely threatening proposition for opposing teams.
Wisden Cricketer of the Century (joint) 2000
He is the only player in history to be considered a genuine world-class performer in both batting AND bowling simultaneously.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- Wisden Cricketer of the Century (joint) 2000
- Knighthood 1975
- World Record Test score 365* (1957, held until Lara 1994)
- First to hit 6 sixes in an over (Malcolm Nash, 1968)
- Wisden Cricketer of Year 1964