Sir Garfield Sobers, the Barbadian-born cricketer widely regarded as the greatest to have ever played the game, has died at the age of 89 at his home following a period of illness. According to Antigua News Room, the West Indies icon passed away shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday.
Sobers represented the West Indies between 1954 and 1974, amassing one of the most celebrated careers in the history of the sport. In 1958, he set a world record for the highest individual Test score, stroking an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan — a record he held for more than 36 years.
Over the course of his illustrious international career, Sobers appeared in 93 Test matches, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. As a bowler, he claimed 235 wickets at an average of 34.03, cementing his status as cricket's pre-eminent all-rounder.
Sobers also etched his name into the record books in 1968 when he became the first batsman in first-class cricket to hit six sixes in a single over, achieving the feat while captaining Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan.
Following his retirement from international cricket, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1975 for his outstanding services to the sport. He was later honoured as a National Hero of Barbados, holding the title the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers.
