Garry Sobers, the West Indies all-rounder regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, has died at the age of 89.<\/p>\n
The Barbados-born player featured in 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, amassing 8,032 runs and taking 235 wickets.<\/p>\n
“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” West Indies Cricket posted on X on Friday above a photograph of him titled “Legend, Icon, Hero”.<\/p>\n
The versatile Sobers was an entertaining left-handed batter who could bowl spin and seam, and was an exceptional fielder.<\/p>\n
He made his Test debut as a 17-year-old against England in 1954.<\/p>\n
At the age of 21, Sobers broke Len Hutton’s record for the highest individual Test score by making 365 not out against Pakistan.<\/p>\n
His record would last until another West Indian master, Brian Lara, made 375 against England in 1994, with Sobers on hand to celebrate.<\/p>\n
The all-rounder averaged an impressive 57.78 with the bat and 34.03 with the ball in Test cricket.<\/p>\n
He also captained West Indies in 39 Tests between 1965 and 1972, winning nine and losing 10.<\/p>\n
In a career filled with extraordinary feats, Sobers became the first player to hit six sixes in one over in first-class cricket, off Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash when playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire.<\/p>\n
He was honoured as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century alongside Australia great Donald Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Viv Richards and Shane Warne.<\/p>\n
The late Bradman paid the ultimate tribute to Sobers: “He is, in my opinion, the greatest cricketer of all time.”<\/p>\n
– ‘Towering figure’ –<\/p>\n
West Indies CEO Chris Dehring described Sobers as a “towering figure whose influence on our game and our region can never be overstated”.<\/p>\n
“Sir Garfield was more than the greatest all-round cricketer the world has ever seen,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“He was the embodiment of West Indies cricket at its finest — bold, brilliant, innovative and unapologetically excellent. His extraordinary achievements transformed the way the game was played and inspired generations of cricketers.”<\/p>\n
Nottinghamshire described their former player as “cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounder” and an iconic figure in the club’s history.<\/p>\n
International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah said the sport had lost “one of its icons”.<\/p>\n
“Sir Garfield Sobers was not only the finest all-rounder the game has ever known, but one of the greatest cricketers in history,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“His remarkable ability to influence a match in every facet of the game set him apart from his peers.”<\/p>\n
England Cricket posted on X: “One of the greatest to ever play the game. Forever in our hearts, Sir Garfield\u00a0Sobers.”<\/p>\n
Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott described Sobers as “like a panther with a purposeful, loping and confident walk”.<\/p>\n
“I just loved the way Garry walked out to bat,” he wrote in the Telegraph.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“He didn’t say anything. He did not need to. There was no ego. His walk let the opposition know he was there for business.”<\/p>\n
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