There was nothing he could not do on the cricket field.
Garry Sobers, long after Don Bradman had stopped playing, brought a rare culture to the game - celebration of feats in every department, with respect in flow for the opponent too. Sobers loved his mastery. He loved his rivals’ excellence all the more.
He was flawless. The crease was his kingdom, and he made it known to the opponents. Nothing could unnerve him. He had his way of establishing supremacy, and nothing symbolised it more than the gem of an innings for the Rest of World against the Australians at Melbourne in 1972.
“The best innings I have seen in Australia,” Bradman had described that epic as Sobers tore into the attack spearheaded by Dennis Lillee. The swing of the bat matched the flow of the ball, and it was hailed as a masterclass universally. You had to be a Sobers to bat like that. An Aussie fan, a witness of that innings, recalled the majestic show in glowing words. One particular shot off Lillee seemed to hit the fence with the bowler a step into his follow-through.
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World cricket was enriched by his amazing consistency and the desire to dominate. He could bat at any position and play literally every shot in the book. The six sixes off six balls feat against Glamorgan in 1968 was a first. The bowler, left-arm spinner Malcolm Nash, was grateful to Sobers for helping him get into the record books.
Fans would flock to watch him bat, bowl, and field. But many would turn up just to see his athleticism, his style, collars up, the lazy walk from slip to slip; Sobers was a star, a handsome individual who was responsible for women turning up in large numbers at cricket matches. His colleagues were envious of his huge following.
Hailing from a humble background in Barbados, Sobers rose to become one of the greatest cricketers, and arguably, the greatest all-rounder. He could bowl fast, tease you with spin, and unleash the chinaman. He was a wizard. His contemporaries learned their lessons from watching him closely. Sobers was aware that he was a role model to many who wanted to emulate him, and he often shared his wisdom most selflessly.
He would always remain a revered figure for Sunil Gavaskar, who was lucky to earn a reprieve at Port of Spain in 1971 when Sobers grassed a sitter. In the preceding Test, the same Sobers had plucked an impossible catch off K. Jayantilal, who never got another chance.
Sobers held Ajit Wadekar and Bishan Singh Bedi in high esteem. In 2010, he travelled to Mumbai when noted cricket journalist Dwarkanath Sanzgiri felicitated the Indian team of 1971 for their series wins in the West Indies and England. Sobers lent his name to attract sponsors and raise funds for the Indians and, remarkably, refused to take his share. It was an incredible night with cricket stories floating until morning. It was a sight as Wadekar and Bedi sat attentively, soaking in the anecdotes as Sobers recalled those great times.
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There was none like Sobers.
There was an anecdote from the Tied Test in 1960. Australian skipper Richie Benaud, a crafty leg-spinner, was locked in a captivating duel with Sobers, who smashed a century in the first innings. At one point, Benaud, seeing Sobers looking to step out, slipped in a flipper. Benaud was convinced he had his man with that well-concealed delivery. Sobers had realised his mistake, but he went through his commitment with a flourish that saw the ball flash past Benaud. It was said to be a golden moment from that great contest when two masters tested each other’s finesse.
Sobers stayed in touch with the game despite his falling health. His frail figure hurt his admirers, who remember him as a debonair figure on the cricket field. Needless to say, Sobers would have lorded over the T20 format, given his dashing stroke-making ability and also the skills to fox the batsmen with the ball. He was the original god of cricket, and those who saw him play in flesh were blessed. Those who could not, can visit YouTube to discover the meaning of the art of cricket.
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Published on Jul 17, 2026