Former Caribbean captain Sir Gary Sobers, one of the world’s greatest all-round cricketers, dies at the age of 89

Bridgetown (Barbados), July 17. Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history and former West Indies captain, died here on Friday at the age of 89. The demise of this legendary cricketer was confirmed by his son Daniel. Sir Gary Sobers said goodbye to this world just 10 days before his 90th birthday. The news of his demise has sent a wave of mourning across the global sports world.

Legendary West Indian all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers has passed away at the age of 89.#Cricket pic.twitter.com/hCxeIthIyH

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 17, 2026

Played 93 test matches in a test career spanning two decades

Sir Sobers, one of the best all-rounders in the world of cricket, played 93 Test matches between March 1954 and April 1974 and scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. These included 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries.

Scored 8,032 runs including 26 centuries and took 235 wickets.

Sobers, a left-handed batsman and left-arm medium pacer, took 235 wickets in Test cricket. Apart from this, with his leopard-like agility on the field, he also took 109 catches. However, he played only one ODI match, in which he took one wicket.

Cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounder, and an iconic figure in Nottinghamshire history.

We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers. pic.twitter.com/5kb6rfYJZU

—Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) July 17, 2026

First batsman to hit 6 sixes in an over in first class cricket

The specialty of Sir Gary Sobers was that he was a world-class batsman, a deadly fast bowler, an excellent spinner and an amazing fielder at the same time. He was also the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket. He achieved this feat while playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in 1968.

While playing for Nottinghamshire in 1968, Sir Garfield Sobers became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a first-class match.

An iconic cricketer pic.twitter.com/iJCU1guPPU

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 17, 2026

Debut in first class cricket at the age of 16

Born on July 28, 1936 in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sobers’ talent can be gauged from the fact that he made his first-class cricket debut for Barbados in 1953 at the age of just 16. His unique and magical talent was immediately recognized by the selectors and the very next year i.e. in 1954, he got a golden opportunity to make his Test debut with the West Indies national team.

The first Test century of his career turned into a historic innings of 365 runs unbeaten.

If seen, after making his debut in international cricket, it did not take much time for Sobers to prove his mettle. While playing against Pakistan in the year 1958, Sobers scored the first century of his Test career, which later turned into a historic innings of unbeaten 365 runs.

Brian Lara broke Sobers’ world record of highest individual score after 36 years.

This world record of the highest individual score in a Test innings could not be touched by anyone for the next 36 years, which was finally broken by the great West Indies batsman Brian Lara in 1994.