WIPA mourns Sir Garfield Sobers, West Indies all-round great

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has offered its sympathies following the death of Sir Garfield Sobers, the celebrated former Barbados and West Indies cricketer who also led the regional side.

Sobers was born on July 28, 1936, in St Michael, Barbados, and was 89 when he died.

“He excelled at batting, bowling and fielding, with elegance and versatility. Sir Garry played 93 Test matches for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974, amassing a total of 8032 runs at an average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets. Sir Garfield’s maiden Test century in 1958, at the age of 23, went on to become the game’s highest individual Test score, 365. That record stood until 1994 when it was broken by Brian Lara,” WIPA said.

In the five Tests that followed that breakthrough hundred, Sobers registered five more centuries, twice in a single match.

He received a knighthood in 1975 for his contribution to the sport and, in 2000, Wisden listed him among five Cricketers of the Century.

WIPA president and CEO Wavell Hinds conveyed deep personal sorrow at the loss.

“Sir Garfield Sobers was regarded as the gold standard of professional cricket, given his tremendous achievement and ability with both bat and ball. He was an icon and an inspiration to generations of West Indian cricketers, including myself,” said Hinds.

He added: “I extend condolences to Sir Garfield Sobers’ family, friends, colleagues, the people of Barbados, and the cricketing fraternity in the West Indies and around the world. We honour Sir Garfield’s life and legacy. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him.”