Sir Garfield Sobers played 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974.
Sir Garry Sobers, arguably the greatest all-rounder of all time, has died aged 89, West Indies Cricket announced on Friday.
“We have reached the end of a great innings. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” West Indies Cricket wrote on X while sharing a photo of him captioned, “Legend. Icon. Hero.” The cause of his death was not announced.
A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers. 🖤🏏 pic.twitter.com/bv2MO1SJgz
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 17, 2026
Sobers was born with an extra finger on each hand. As a young boy, he removed both himself using catgut and a sharp knife.
He later became one of the greatest all-around cricketers in history. Sobers was a stylish and powerful left-handed batter, a left-arm bowler who could bowl both pace and spin, and an outstanding fielder in any position. Wisden Almanack named him one of the five greatest cricketers of the 20th century.
He was ranked second only to Australian batting legend Don Bradman, who said in 1988, “I have no hesitation in saying that Garry Sobers is the greatest all-around cricketer I ever saw.”
Sobers played 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974. During his career, he scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and took 235 wickets at an average of 34.03.
Looking back on his career, Sobers often downplayed his natural talent. “People call me a genius. I don’t know much about geniuses,” he said later in life.
“But I do believe that what I achieved was not just because of the ability I was born with but also because I worked hard.”
