'A great innings comes to an end' — cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Sir Garfield Sobers, arguably the greatest all-rounder of all time, has died aged 89, West Indies Cricket announced on Friday.</p> <p>“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” West Indies Cricket posted on X above a photograph of him titled ‘Legend. Icon. Hero’.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/windiescricket/status/2078134366778118190'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/windiescricket/status/2078134366778118190"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Sobers played 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and took 235 wickets at 34.03 runs each.</p> <p>In a poll of 100 cricket experts in 1999, both Australian batsman Donald Bradman and Sobers were chosen in Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the 20th Century, with the West Indian all-rounder garnering 90 votes.</p> <p>Bradman had an extraordinary 100 votes and yet before his own death in 2001, ‘the Don’ paid the ultimate tribute to Sobers.</p> <p>“He is, in my opinion, the greatest cricketer of all time,” said Bradman.</p> <p>For many, he is perhaps best known for becoming the first player to hit six sixes in one over — Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash being the unfortunate bowler when Sobers played county cricket for Nottinghamshire.</p> <p>They paid tribute to him, describing him as “cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounder and an iconic figure in Nottinghamshire history”.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/TrentBridge/status/2078149071387177092'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TrentBridge/status/2078149071387177092"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>“We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers,” the club said.</p> <p>England also paid tribute on social media, calling Sobers “one of the greatest to ever play the game”.</p> <p>“Forever in our hearts, Sir Garfield Sobers,” they added.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2078139041971576979'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/2078139041971576979"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Indian cricket’s governing body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), paid a fulsome tribute as well.</p> <p>“The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of cricket’s greatest-ever all-rounders,” it said.</p> <p>“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,” they added and posted a video of Sobers interacting with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and other Indian players during the tour of the West Indies in 2024.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/BCCI/status/2078138947977597419'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/2078138947977597419"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.