Sir Garfield Sobers is recognized best all-arounder in the sport’s history. Being a left-handed bowler and batsman, Sobers was so well-liked that Bradman dubbed him the “five-in-one cricketer.” In addition to being a superb batsman and bowler, he was an all-rounder in the broadest sense of the word. He could bowl in every imaginable style, from medium pace to left-arm spin. He was an excellent fielder in any position but excelled in fielding close to the wicket. When they were young, Garfield Sobers and his brother Gerald used their cricketing prowess to assist their boys’ school side in winning the inter-school cricket tournament for three straight years. He ultimately achieved international renown thanks to his cricketing prowess. He played legendary innings throughout his career and astounded everyone with his incredible talent. Almost 20 years into his Test career, he captained his nation 39 times.
Early Childhood & Life
He was born on July 28, 1936, to Shamont and Thelma Sobers in Bridgetown, Barbados. He was the fifth of his family’s six kids.
His father died at sea in January 1942 after a German U-boat sank his ship.
He attended Bay St. School in Barbados for his early education. Garfield Sobers was a gifted young guy who excelled in various sports, including basketball, football, and cricket.
He acquired valuable experience by bowling to Wanderer’s batters during net practice and quickly honed his exceptional left-arm spin bowling technique.
Career
At 16, he made his first-class debut at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown in 1953 against the visiting Indian team. Although he didn’t bat well, he immediately stood out as a bowler, claiming seven wickets.
At Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, he played his first international test match against England at 17. He performed well as a fast bowler and finished the game with four wickets.
Garfield Sobers participated in many test series against Australia, New Zealand, and England between 1954 and 1957, both at home and abroad. He could appear in several games, but his strong beginnings resulted in low scores.
One of his more developed early performances was in the 1957 Oval test match against England, where he scored 89 and 86 in the contest’s first two innings. In the game, no other West Indian player reached a personal score of 30.
Sir Garfield Sobers showed off his brilliance from 1958 to 1965, scoring more than a dozen centuries against sides like India and England. Yet his first century in a Test match against Pakistan in Kingston is his best batting performance. The world record Test score of 364 established by England’s Len Hutton in 1938 was surpassed by him as he converted his century into an unbeaten 365.
In the 1964–1965 home series against Australia, which West Indies won 2-1, he served as captain for the first time. Under his leadership, West Indies also won test series against England in 1966 and against India in 1966–67.
Due to his statement, West Indies lost the test match—headed for a draw.
In the test series against England in 1970 and the test series against Australia in 1972, he also served as captain of the “Rest of the World XI” team.
He also participated in domestic first-class matches in Australia, the English county championships, and English league cricket. He took one wicket in the 1973 match against England, which was his lone ODI appearance.
At Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago, he played his final Test match against England in 1974. He played in 93 Tests during his career, 235 wickets, with an average of 34.03 runs per wicket and scoring 8032 runs, including 26 hundred and 30 half-centuries.
Recognition & Achievements
He is still the youngest triple-centurion after breaking the individual Test score record with an undefeated 365 against Pakistan in 1958.
The “West Indian Cricketer of the Year” title was given to him (1958–59).
He was honored to be named “Wisden Cricketer of the Year” in 1964.
He made history by hitting six sixes in one over of first-class cricket in 1968 while representing Nottinghamshire at Swansea against Glamorgan. The unfortunate bowler who was the target was Malcolm Nash.
He held the record for the most runs in test cricket when he retired from it in 1974.
Queen Elizabeth II gave him the title of “Knight in the 1975 New Year Honors for his contributions to cricket.
In 2000, he received the Wisden Cricketer of the Century award.
The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, given annually to the ICICI’s “Player of the Year,” The International Cricket Council (ICC) made this rule in 2004.
Personal Legacy & Life
He wed Pru Kirby, an Australian woman, in September 1969. Matthew and Daniel, two sons, were a blessing to them. Also, they have Genevieve, an adopted daughter. Nevertheless, the couple split up in 1984 and eventually divorced in 1990.
