Published: July 18, 2026 at 8:39 am
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed grief at the death of legendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away just days before his 90th birthday.
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Widely acclaimed as the best all-rounder across eras, Sobers was an attractive batter and could bowl both pace and spin. He was also very highly rated as a fielder in the close-in as well as in other positions.
Sir Garfield Sobers was an attractive batter and could bowl both pace and spin. He was also very highly rated as a fielder in the close-in as well as in other positions. Pic: Getty Images
Sobers, who made his first-class debut at the age of 16 and played international cricket within a year, registered what was then the highest Test score of 365 not out at the age of 21. He was the first batter to hit six sixes off an over in a first-class game.
Sobers’ first Test century was 365 not out
Sobers began his career in 1954 against England in Kingston, Jamaica, scoring 40 runs across two innings and picking four wickets.
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In an international career spanning two decades starting from 1954, Sobers played 93 Test matches in which he slammed 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries.
The very first of Sobers’ 26 hundreds was a then-world record 365 not out against Pakistan, an innings during which he overtook Len Hutton’s 364. Several years later, Sobers was present when his fellow West Indian Brian Lara broke his record against England in 1994 in Antigua.
His aggregate of 8032 Test runs was also a record until Geoffrey Boycott got past the mark many years later. Sobers finished with 235 wickets and held 109 catches in Tests.
Sobers also scored 30 half-centuries and took six five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
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Sobers was also a member of the famous Frank Worrell touring party to Australia in 1960/61, featuring in an enthralling five-Test series that was won by the hosts 2-1.
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The first Test of the series in Brisbane was the first-ever tied Test in the history of the game, with Sobers setting up his team with a brilliant 132 in the first innings. He ended the series with 430 runs and 15 wickets.
Sobers hit six sixes in an over
Sobers’ most iconic feat in the game came in first-class cricket, when he turned out for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in the County Championship in 1968. The left-hand batter was the first cricketer to hit six sixes in an over, with Malcolm Nash the unfortunate bowler.
In 2009, Sobers was inducted as an inaugural member of the ICC Hall of Fame. Since 2004, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy is awarded annually, honouring the Men’s Cricketer of the Year. The award recognises the most outstanding performer in men’s international cricket.
Sobers was one of the greatest cricketers: Shah
“Today, the cricket world has lost one of its greatest icons. Sir Garfield Sobers was not only the finest all-rounder the game has ever known, but one of the greatest cricketers in history,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah.
Sir Garfield Sobers was not only the finest all-rounder the game has ever known, but one of the greatest cricketers in history,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah. Pics: ICC
“His remarkable ability to influence a match in every facet of the game set him apart from his peers. Whether with the bat, ball or in the field, Sir Garfield embodied excellence, and his achievements continue to define the standard to which generations of cricketers aspire. Beyond his extraordinary accomplishments on the field, Sir Garfield was a true ambassador for our sport. His legacy extends far beyond records and statistics. He helped shape the identity of West Indies cricket during one of its most celebrated eras and leaves behind an indelible mark on the history of our game.
“On behalf of the International Cricket Council, I extend our deepest condolences to Sir Garfield’s family, friends, Cricket West Indies and cricket fans around the world. He will be remembered with immense admiration and gratitude, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come,” Shah added.
BCCI mourns death of Sobers
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) mourned the passing away of Sir Garfield Sobers.
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“The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounders. His extraordinary achievements, lasting influence on Caribbean cricket and immeasurable contribution to the global game have left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the global cricketing fraternity. May his soul rest in peace,” says a BCCI post on X.
There will never, ever be another like you, says Gavaskar
Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar paid rich tributes to Sir Garfield Sobers even as he mourned the West Indian all-rounder’s death.
“Rest in peace, Sir Garry. There will never, ever be another like you.
“It is with a incredibly heavy heart that I hear the news of the passing of the greatest of them all, Sir Garfield Sobers. For anyone who loves this beautiful game, Sir Garry wasn’t just a cricketer; he was the ultimate standard of what a cricketer could be.
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“When we talk about all-rounders today, we often look at players who can balance two disciplines. But Sir Garry? He was a master of five. He could bat like a dream, bowl fast-medium with the new ball, switch seamlessly to orthodox left-arm spin, bowl wrist spin, and field like a panther at short leg or in the slips. To watch him walk onto a cricket field, with that loose, rhythmic Caribbean stride, collars turned up, was to watch absolute majesty in motion. He played the game with a sublime joy and a fierce, competitive dignity that defined an entire era.
“I remember the sheer awe he inspired whenever India played the West Indies. You couldn’t take your eyes off him. Even when he was taking the game away from you, you couldn’t help but marvel at the genius of the man. His 365 not out stood as a mountain for decades, and those six sixes in an over became the stuff of folklore. Yet, off the field, he was always an absolute gentleman—warm, incredibly generous with his knowledge, and fiercely proud of the game’s finest traditions.
“Cricket has lost its brightest jewel today. The stands are a little quieter, and the game is poorer without him. My deepest condolences go out to his family, his friends, and to every cricket lover across the Caribbean and the world who is mourning this incomparable loss,” Sunil Gavaskar posted on X.
Noel David pays tributes to Sobers
Former Indian and Hyderabad player Noel David spoke of how he met Sir Garfield Sobers while paying his tributes to the legendary West Indian player.
“It’s one of the biggest losses to world cricket by the passing away of Sir Garfield Sobers. I am really fortunate enough to meet Sir Garfield Sobers during the West Indies Tour in 1997 when we lost the historical Test match chasing 120 runs. Sir came to dressing room invited by coach Madan Lal to have talk with the team, and I still remember the words Sir had to say to Indian Team.
“Go out there and enjoy the game. Don’t not shy away from fear, add no pressure to your mind overnight thinking of the game. Just relax with a beer man and come fresh with an empty mind, when you go out there in middle of the ground that’s the time you need to ask the mind to function. Till that time give it a break.”
“These are the golden words of advice given to us. May the soul of Sir Garfield Sobers rest in peace. Amen,” Noel posted on Facebook.
