WITH the recent passing away of Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers (July 17), the world has lost one of the greatest cricketers of all time. A pioneer of aggressive and hard-hitting cricket, Sobers is ranked among the most eminent all-rounders in the history of the game. In fact, he was arguably the best of them all. He was an all-rounder far ahead of his time — a batsman of flawless technique, an innovative bowler, and a vigilant fielder. He not only revolutionised West Indies cricket, but also left an indelible mark on the global game.

Sir Garfield, popularly known as Garry Sobers, was born on July 28, 1936, to Shamont and Thelma Sobers of Bridgetown in Barbados. He made his international debut in March 1954 in the final Test of the series against England. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he represented the West Indies in 93 Tests — as the captain in 39 of them — scoring 8,032 runs with 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries. His unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958 stood as the highest individual Test score for almost 35 years. Besides, he claimed 235 wickets with his slow left-arm orthodox and wrist spin, and, as an agile fielder, grabbed 109 catches. As long as the game of cricket is alive, Garry Sobers would be remembered.

Kamran Khamiso Khowaja
Sujawal

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026