Sir Garfield Sobers

A genius left-hander

Garry Sobers complemented his extraordinary versatility with a steely determination and stamina that enabled him to consistently meet the expectations of his team and myriad fans. A genius left-hander he was a thrilling, attacking batsman who also took the new ball and then turned his hand to both orthodox and unorthodox slow bowling. For good measure he was a brilliant fieldsman close to the wicket.

Four years after his Test debut at 17 against England in 1954 he scored 365 not out and so surpassed Sir Leonard Hutton's record of 364 which had stood since 1938. He played in 22 Test series scoring more than 500 runs six times and taking 10 or more wickets on 13 occasions. The first player to hit six sixes in an over he also played for South Australia and twice famously scored 1000 runs and captured 100 wickets in the same season.

'The innings was probably the best seen in Australia. The people who saw Sobers have enjoyed one of the historic events of cricket. They were privileged to have such an experience'. Bradman on Sobers' 254 runs for the Rest of the World team in 1971

'Fear is the worst enemy of any cricketer.' Sir Garfield Sobers

The Stats

Sir Garfield Sobers is the one player against whom all others are compared across the disciplines of batting, bowling and fielding.

Did you know?

Garfield Sobers' 8,032 runs and 235 wickets ranks him as the greatest all-rounder in various "most valuable player" schemes. He is one of only four Test players to have the records for the highest score in a Test Innings (365*) at the same time as the record for the most runs scored. Sobers held this unique record for 219 Tests.