Cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers passes away at 89 in Barbados

West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers, regarded as one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, has passed away at 89. The former captain’s remarkable career included 8,032 Test runs, 235 wickets and the record-breaking 365-run innings against Pakistan in 1958

Hyderabad: Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the greatest all-rounders cricket has ever produced, passed away at his home in Barbados. He was 89.

Sobers left an indelible impression on the game with his extraordinary skills as a batter, left-arm spinner and outstanding fielder. Late Sir Donald Bradman once described him as a “five-in-one cricketer”.

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The great West Indian played 93 Test matches for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets at an average of 34.03.

The ICC’s premier annual award in men’s cricket — the Sir Garfield Sobers Award — is named in his honour and recognises the most outstanding overall performer in men’s international cricket across all formats.

“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” Cricket West Indies said in a post on X.

Sobers made his first-class cricket debut 73 years ago at the age of 16, and his Test debut a year later against England in Jamaica, where he scored 14 and 26 batting at No. 9 and took 4 for 75 in England’s first innings.

He played his initial Tests as a bowler, but at the age of 23, he scored his maiden Test hundred and also broke Len Hutton’s world record for the highest individual Test score by making 365 against Pakistan at Sabina Park in 1958.

Interestingly, that famous world record was later broken by fellow West Indian Brian Lara. Sobers watched the historic innings from the stands and later came onto the field to congratulate Lara after the epic knock.