Sir Garfield Sobers’ Jamaica bond traced to mentor Collie Smith

Sir Garfield Sobers, the celebrated West Indies cricket great who passed away in Barbados on Friday at age 89, built a deep connection with Jamaica that began in the late 1950s. Then an emerging talent, he looked to Jamaican all-rounder Collie Smith as his mentor.

Five of Sobers’ 26 Test hundreds came at Sabina Park in Kingston. His first was a monumental 365 against Pakistan there in February 1958 — a world Test record that stood until Brian Lara’s unbeaten 375 versus England in Antigua in April 1994. The West Indies won that Pakistan contest by an innings and 174 runs.

A year later, Smith — who had entered Test cricket in 1955 — died from injuries suffered in a car accident in England. Sobers was at the wheel; Jamaican and West Indies paceman Tom Dewdney was also in the vehicle.

Lyndel “Muddy” Wright, Smith’s brother, recalled the enduring friendship between Sobers and the all-rounder nicknamed “The Mighty Mouse.”

“Whenever Garry came to Jamaica, he said he batted for Collie. They had a tremendous relationship, Collie was like a brother who gave him guidance,” Wright told Observer Online.

Representing Boys’ Town, Smith compiled 1,331 runs across 26 Tests at 31.69, with two centuries, and claimed 48 wickets at 33.85 with his offspin.

Wright said Sobers did not allow guilt over the crash that claimed his elder sibling at 26 to consume him.

“For him (Sobers), it was a matter of sorrow at the passing of his friend. Garry was always speaking about Collie,” Wright stated.

Five months after Smith’s death, Wisden — cricket’s leading reference — paid tribute during the West Indies–England series at Sabina Park. Smith’s mother, Carmen Gordon, attended the February 1960 ceremony. Sobers scored 147 in the drawn fixture.

Across 93 Tests, Sobers amassed 8,032 runs at 57.78 and took 235 wickets at 34.03 with left-arm spin and swing.