Cricket loses its greatest all-rounder as Sir Garry Sobers dies aged 89 and out

[Orca]

Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as the finest all-rounder the sport has ever produced, has died at his home in Barbados at the age of 89. Cricket West Indies confirmed his passing on Friday, posting a photograph captioned Legend, Icon, Hero alongside the message a great innings has come to an end, in our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers

Born in Bridgetown on July 28, 1936, Sobers made his Test debut at just 17 and went on to play 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 while taking 235 wickets bowling left arm pace, orthodox spin and wrist spin interchangeably, a versatility Don Bradman once called being a five in one cricketer. He captained West Indies in 39 Tests between 1965 and 1972, helping lay the foundation for the Caribbean side's dominant run through the late 1970s and 1980s

His signature achievement came at 21, when he broke Len Hutton's world record for the highest individual Test score with 365 not out against Pakistan at Sabina Park in 1958, a record that stood until Brian Lara broke it with 375 in 1994, with Sobers on hand to celebrate the moment. A decade after that innings he became the first player ever to hit six sixes in a single over in first class cricket, facing Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash while playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire, a feat only equalled once since

In Wisden's 1999 poll ranking the five greatest cricketers of the 20th century, Sobers received 90 votes behind only Bradman's 100, and Bradman himself later called him simply the greatest cricketer of all time. Former England batter Geoffrey Boycott offered one of the more evocative tributes, describing Sobers walking out to bat like a panther with a purposeful, loping and confident walk that let the opposition know he was there for business without needing to say a word. Cricket West Indies president Kishore Shallow called him the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen, offering condolences to his family and the people of Barbados as tributes poured in from across the cricketing world

Garry Sobers Dies Aged 89 1546030www.cricinfo.com

[Ranger]

The Boycott quote about him walking out to bat like a panther, no ego, no words needed, is such a perfect description of genuine sporting presence