“A man of genius is what he is . . . Garfied Sobers I see not as a fortuitous combination of atoms which by chance have coalesced into a superb public performer . . . for me his command of the rising ball in the drive, his close fielding and his hurling himself into his fast bowling are a living embodiment of centuries of a tortured history.” – C.L.R. James.
BARBADOS’ only living National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers is approaching another century.
The cricketing genius, who has been described as “evolution’s ultimate specimen in cricketers” by Ray Robinson, celebrates his 75th birthday today.
Universally acknowledged as the greatest and most complete cricketer in the history of the game, Sir Garry was born on this day in 1936.
He came from a family of seven and had an indigent background in Bay Land, St Michael, where his mother raised him after his father had been killed during World War II.
In a 383-match first-class career, which spanned from 1953 to 1974, he amassed 28 314 runs at an average of 54.87 with 86 centuries. He also took 1 043 wickets at an average of 27.74 and held 407 catches.
Knighted for his services to cricket at the Garrison Savannah in 1975, a stone’s throw from where he grew up, Sir Garry, who captained the West Indies in 39 of his 93 Tests, was also selected as one of the five Wisden cricketers of the century, 1900 to 2000.
His cricketing genius was manifested in his remarkable all-round versatility which saw him play the game with pride and passion.
Sir Garry was an outstanding left-handed middle order batsman, who scored 8 032 runs in 93 Tests at an average of 57.78 with 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries.
He was a ”three-in-one” bowler, who captured 235 Test wickets at an average of 34.03 with six five-wicket innings hauls.
Sir Garry was capable of incisive fast-medium left-arm swing bowling, many times using the newball while he would also switch to orthodox left-arm spin or wrist spin, cleverly mixing his deliveries with the chinaman and googly.
Additionally, he was a brilliant fielder, especially close to the wicket, where he held several stunning reflex catches off the spin of Lance Gibbs behind the batsman’s back in a position, which became known as “pick pocket”.
After taking seven wickets in his maiden first-class match in 1953 as a 16-year-old against the touring Indian team, one year later, he made his Test debut against England at Sabina Park in Jamaica – becoming the West Indies’ second youngest debutant at 17 years and 245 days.
Four years later in 1958, Sir Garry converted his first Test century into a world record 365 not out versus Pakistan, eclipsing Len Hutton’s previously highest individual Test score of 364. That record stood for 36 years before it was broken by Brian Lara in 1994.
Sir Garry’s innings took him just over 10 hours and contained 34 fours.
Afterwards, for the next decade and a half, the rest of the cricketing world worshipped at Sir Garry’s court with his juggernaut gaining momentum as he dominated every aspect of the game and set standards by which others were judged.
A supremely fit athlete with natural grace, standing six feet tall, Sir Garry played the game not only with flair and finesse, but also with style and substance. His trademark stylish walk to the crease with his shirt collar raised, set tongues wagging and pulses racing.
He won many accolades for his achievements and fantastic feats.
He amassed over 500 runs in a Test series on six occasions – 824 (ave: 137.33) versus Pakistan in 1958; 557 (ave: 92.83) versus India in 1958-59; against England, he scored 709 (101.28) in 1960; 722 (ave: 103.14) in 1966 and 545 (ave: 90.83) in 1968 and 597 (ave: 74.62) versus India in 1971.
He twice scored 1 000 runs and took 50 wickets in an Australian season, a feat that had never been accomplished before.
His memorable 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia at Melbourne in 1971-1972 is still regarded as the greatest innings of all time “Down Under” where the incomparable Don Bradman also fashioned many superlative knocks.
In 1968 he was the first man to hit six consecutive sixes in a six-ball over off Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash in a county Nottinghamshire at Swansea.
His captaincy, though enterprising and inspiring was at times criticized as it was marked by many bold declarations. None more so than his infamous declaration in Trinidadin 1968 when England scored 215 runs in 164 minutes to win the Test and eventually the series.
He slumped so low in the popularity stakes that his effigy was hung in Independence Square in the capital that night.
He also incurred the wrath of many for his 1970 visit to racist Rhodesia but he subsequently conveyed “sincere regrets” in a diplomatic apology after Guyana’s president Forbes Burnham said he wouldn’t be welcome in the South American country. Burnham later relented.
But Sir Garry was not only an outstanding cricketer. He was blessed with all-round sporting talent and also represented Barbados in football, basketball and golf. He was also a capable table tennis and dominoes player.