Biography

Barbados, like a mole on the cheek, is a small, beautiful and lively island, situated near the axis of equator on the southeastern coast of America. On a beautiful summer day, a small golden figure was scampering to catch a knitted-tar ball in the streets of Barbados. The blend of sunrays with sand stuck in drops of sweat on a little dark body was creating an illusion of a golden image as the young Gary ran to pick the ‘Lilliput ball’. Neither Gary nor the other children in play knew that he would one day cement his place as the world’s best all-round cricketer. Sobers paved his own way through the streets of Barbados to international games, not only representing the West Indies team, but also leading it as a successful captain. His life is an interesting tale, that of a common man turned celebrity.[br /]
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[b]Birth[/b][br /]
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In the most depressing period that the world experienced in the last century during the recession of the 1930s, Sir Gary Sobers opened his innings of life. On July 28, 1936, Gary was born in a seaman's family at Bay Land, St Michael Parish, Bridgetown, Barbados. Gary’s original name was Garfield St Aubrun Sobers but since his early days, he was called Gary. His father, Shamont Sobers served in the Merchant Navy, and so stayed out of home for most part of the year. His mother Thelma Sobers, was a housewife, and it was up to her to nourish the six children, both mentally and physically. In the earliest days, most of Gary’s learning took place through his mother and elder siblings.[br /]
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[b]Family History[/b][br /]
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Most West Indian families originally belonged to Africa but in 17th century, many African slaves were taken to Barbados. Tracing the Sobers family chart leads to St Peter where they stayed in 19th century and later migrated to St Andrew and St Michael islands.[br /]
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The genealogical chart shows that most of the Sobers left the island to settle in Panama and America. Among those who stayed at Barbados were Gary’s parents.[br /]
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[b]Childhood References[/b][br /]
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Shamont was a strict man enforcing discipline among his children. Yet, he was not rigid and that helped Gary to grow into a self-disciplined, yet open-minded person. Gary lost his father at a very early age. While sailing the ship The Lady Drake on January 11, 1942, during World War II, one torpedo hit the ship that exploded, killing Gary’s father, instantly.[br /]
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Death of the family head brought down their financial status. The mother and her six children – including two of them so small enough as not to be left alone, had to fend for themselves. George, the eldest of Gary’s siblings finally took the responsibility to maintain the family and decided to work. A comparatively small pension their mother received, helped them manage the basics of life. Gary himself was too small to understand the issues like death of his father.[br /]
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Child’s Play[br /]
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While kids in most parts of the world would still play with a toy, Gary like any other child in Barbados, played with a ball. Cricket in its different form, that was transformed to suit the resources available, was the only game Gary and his friends played. The form of cricket that Gary played in his childhood days was popularly called "Lilliput Cricket".[br /]
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Lilliput is a very flexible form of the original play where the players don’t require costly kits or a big ground. It originated from the fertile minds of poor men who pulled the cricket out of the palace gardens to town streets. It’s a very popular form of cricket in Barbados, and every child, before he would play with the hard ball would play Lilliput for years. Gary, like other kids of his age, would rush to small patches of ground to play Lilliput. His mother helped him to make a ball rolled in tar and chip out a bat out of a two and a half feet long piece of wood. Often, when someone mentioned a carpenter being around, Gary would run to him to have a ‘good shaped’ bat. Taking his bat in hand, raising the bat up so as to keep it at rest on his shoulders, Gary would take giant leaps on the Lilliput pitch, addressing himself as William G Grace or Sir Learie Constantine, the great figures of early years of international cricket.[br /]
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Gary spent all the free time available, devoted to cricket. Playing cricket was something every child in Barbados loved and Gary was no exception. All day long, they would get together, part in two teams, and play on a patch of land. His friends would go on a hunt to gather three sticks, two feet long to make up the stumps for their Lilliput Cricket. Every town and every street of the town had their Lilliput teams. A family team is also common in Barbados, playing against other family. Streets against streets and towns against towns had their league matches. In the early days, Gary belonged to one such team made up of small children who had yet not begun to attend school.[br /]
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Quite often he used to play with his father whenever he returned home on leave. His father, however, preferred football, but played cricket fairly well. Gary had yet never played with a hard ball unlike the kids in other parts of world like the UK, Australia and other cricket playing nations where kids began their play with the hard ball. The success he got as a cricketer, particularly as a great batsman and an outstanding fielder, Gary personally attributes that to his early years of Lilliputian Cricket.[br /]
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[b]The Lilliput Cricket[/b][br /]
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"You don’t score runs by staying on the pitch. It’s only by hitting a ball offensively that you keep the scoreboard ticking," says one of the great cricket critics.[br /]
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For a cricketer to play successfully at the international level, it is inevitable to overcome the fear of the ball. That is exactly what Lilliput Cricket did to Gary. Lilliput Cricket was played in a different manner compared to its conventional form. The ball was remarkably safe even if it hit on the face or any other sensitive body part.[br /]
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That allowed Gary to stay put, in front of the ball without being afraid of it as the ball was delivered by a bowler an under arm fashion. On the other hand, players who played directly with the hard ball had to play a defensive game from their very beginning. Consequently, his game grew offensive playing without inhibition of being hit by the ball helped Gary develop natural strokes, which later became his unique style.[br /]
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The rules for playing Lilliput Cricket contributed a lot in developing Gary as a versatile player. Particularly, the batting position he had to take up, as a requisite for playing was an influencing factor in his batting style in international cricket. While batting in a Lilliput match, he had to get into a very unusual position. Putting one foot firmly on ground and batting on one knee restricted his mobility. Neither he could move his feet to the ball, nor could he afford to move his entire body. In such conditions, the only way he could keep batting and scoring runs was to make effective use of wrists, arms and shoulders. Continuous play in such conditions molded him into a player who could direct the ball between gaps of two players just with his wrists. Playing square-cuts and cover drives on a hard ball became a child’s play for him after mastering the skill on Lilliput.[br /]
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Gary Sobers, the left-handed batsman, was also famous for playing hook shots. A hook shot is considered one of the most complex of shots in cricket, particularly due to the risk of being hit on the trunk if one misses the ball. But sitting on one knee, the harmless ball helped him develop a style that supported playing hook shots freely. at will.[br /]
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At times, a tennis ball was used by Gary and his playmates. Even that ball was safe enough to play fearlessly. But the tennis ball bounced higher compared to the hard ball. Playing with such ball helped Gary perfect his batting skills, particularly when he had to face bouncers at international levels. He and his friends had their favorite cricket heroes whose style, they mimicked. Continuously practicing the style of shots akin to their personal heroes, they perfected their games. That was the only coaching Gary received as an upcoming player.[br /]
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[b]Cricket in the Notebook[/b][br /]
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It seemed that Gary was born to play cricket and nothing else. It is amazing that this great cricketer played cricket not just on field, but also in his notebook. A sheet of paper served as their playground as they played Blind men's Cricket, an indoor game often played at parties. The rules of cricket were applied to this game, which could be played by making a special ‘chart’ for play where a player has to place his finger with his eyes closed.[br /]
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[b]Schooling[/b][br /]
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When he grew up enough, he was sent to Bay Street Primary School with his elder brother Gerry. Studies did not fascinate him like any other kid. The main business at school is study, but for Gary, it was cricket once again. He was lucky to get Everton Barrow as his sports master. Cricket filled every hour of his life in different ways during his school years. Gerry soon became the captain of the school cricket team. Gerry was the opening batsman and wicketkeeper, while Gary was the lead bowler who used to bowl the other sides out. All this was a precursor to destiny that preparing to unfold talents of a great cricketer.[br /]
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[b]The Small Wonder[/b][br /]
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From the street matches, Gary got his position fixed in the school team. Representing the school, he played the Tennis Ball League. At 11, he had already made up his mind to represent his country at the international level. But there was still a level he had to achieve, prior to announcing his dream. Playing with the hard ball was yet to be mastered by Gary. It was certainly uncommon to play with a hard ball for most other children in Barbados, but for anyone aspiring to have a cricketing career, to play with was a must. Ultimately, he decided to shift gears and switch on to the hard ball game. When he reached 13 years, he was a small wonder to watch for a youngster with height of 5 feet 5 inches, to play the wonderful game.[br /]
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Gary tried hard to get into the district cricket team but it seemed tough because of the reluctance of team players to accommodate a young player. The team members feared that his height could be Gary’s weak-point and that he might get a bad hit on face. Luckily for him, he got a chance to play in the district team once, against a team called Penny Hall. He played an outstanding game in that match as a bowler, in spite of his age and left a strong impression on the Penny Hall team.[br /]
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Being impressed by Gary, the captain of Penny Hall asked him to play for their team. For a pre-adolescent, aspiring to enter international cricket, it was a real breakthrough. Eventually he got the chance to represent the County League team for the Country League championship. That team of cricketers was carefully picked from various teams of the town. But it was a long way before he could have the satisfaction of representing his country. He emerged as a young talented cricketer with extraordinary cricket sense, shining in most matches he played. Continuous practice and learning was now paying him back as he was chosen, as the youngest cricketer by a County Eleven to play against a City Eleven.[br /]
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[b]Paid to Play[/b][br /]
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As someone has succinctly put it, "If you want to attain the ultimate success, here is the key. Find out what you love to do most and the find out someone who pays you to do that."[br /]
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Dennis Atkinson, who later became a star all rounder of the West Indies team, was a friend of Gary when he was about to finish school. Once, while talking, Dennis pointed out that it was okay for Gary to play cricket while in school, but after finishing school there may not be a chance for him to represent any team. Dennis also suggested a wonderful solution to Gary to join the police band. Gary had to earn, take some job, once he finished school and that too in a manner that would allow him to continue playing in first class cricket. He could not play any particular instrument efficiently, however, getting into the police band would give him an opportunity to represent the police team.[br /]
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Opportunities do not occur, they have to be identified and Gary did the same. Once, while playing against the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) from the team of Barbados Cricket League, he sought an opportunity. The captain of the BCA was a police inspector, named Captain Farmer. During the match, Capt. Farmer approached Gary and asked if he would like to join the police band. Gary couldn’t believe his luck. What he was searching for fell right into his lap, and without letting another second pass by, Gary replied affirmatively.[br /]
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Capt. Farmer was stunned at Gary’s readiness. He didn’t know that Gary himself would be contemplating about the issue. Though he had yet to learn to play the bugle, he accepted the work. After all, a little devotion to learn bugle was paying him in plenty of hours to play cricket.[br /]
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[b]First Blow[/b][br /]
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Every cricketer would cherish the memory of the first hit by a hard ball. For Gary it had a special significance, being hit by the West Indian bowler Williams for the first time in his life. He was only 14 when he was chosen to play against the Empire Cricket Club. Gary was swiftly turning almost every ball delivered by Williams into a stroke. Williams got frustrated with this kid and while he turned up to deliver the next ball, gave a sign of threat to Gary. Rushing down to deliver his ball, Williams gathered all his energy he could summon and almost shot another ball on to the little Gary. Gary had developed an instinct to hook every ball that rose above his shoulder. Out of habit, Gary tried to hook the ball and missed it. Booom…like a steam roller, the ball hit his jaw. That was the first instance that a rushing ball had touched him.[br /]
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His jaw developed a swelling. He had to leave the field. The ball had hit something else within him – the fragile image of a boy. That hit turned the boy’s game into a man’s game. Exemplifying the metaphysical notion that mind is beyond time, Gary, a 14-year-old kid turned into Gary - the mature player.[br /]
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The swelling, however, caused him a different kind of loss. He couldn’t play bugle, hence the bandleader asked him to leave the band. Gary stretched his lips to smile, uttered ‘thank you’, and left the place forever.[br /]
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[b]The Unfoldment of Career[/b][br /]
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What is so common in the lives of most great and successful people is the way their life unfolds. An event appearing as a great setback turns out to be a real turning point in the final analysis. For Gary, being knocked out of the police band helped him concentrate more on cricket. He represented BCA by joining the Police Boy’s Club and got a chance to avail an exposure to international cricket. In 1952-53, while Gary was only 16, he was picked up as the 12th man for the BCA team to play against the touring Indian cricket team.[br /]
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He almost slipped in the team as the selectors decided to give one of the bowlers rest for a better performance in the Test. Gary was elated for the first time in life as he was included as a bowler. Conceding 40 runs in 20 overs and picking up four valuable wickets lifted his spirit.[br /]
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Both, Gary and teammates were happy with his performance. People around him began to talk about his chance of getting into the West Indies team. Gary, however knew that there was one more thing he needed to penetrate and hard sell himself to reach an international team. He took up practice and began a self-learning program to enhance his batting skills. He talked to some men who liked to bowl fast and got them to bowl against him – without wearing pads and gloves. Gary was now firm to let his performance as an all rounder speak to stake for his claim into the West Indies team.[br /]
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[b]Breaking the Ice[/b][br /]
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[b]Breaking the Ice[/b][br /]
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Gary Sobers finally could break the ice and managed to get into the West Indies team that was selected to play against the MCC. It was a giant achievement for a 17-year-old boy from Barbados to represent the West Indies cricket team. Being on top of the world was something Gary had only heard about till the moment he walked into the ground as a member of the West Indies Test team. Being one among the stars was an exhilarating experience for Gary, but he had a future laid before him that could offer him many more such moments if he kept up his natural play.[br /]
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As they say in management, "Two things work only when they are open – a mind and a parachute." Gary understood it very well. He had an open mind, still hungry to learn. On the field he consciously paid attention to the style of the contemporary top-class players. He watched every move of the classic players, noticing every gesture, absorbing their style.[br /]
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Somewhere in his writings, Sobers has stated about his first experience of playing at the international level, that in those days he was like a 'human sponge', soaking every thing he heard or saw[br /]
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Never before, did he notice the angle of bat, the pitch of ball, flight, stance, its turn and other details.[br /]
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In the first innings of his international debut Test match, Gary Sobers scored 46 runs and 27 in the second.[br /]
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Being Himself[br /]
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While playing his first international Test, Gary had understood the importance of developing a unique style of his own. Most youngsters preferred to adopt the way cricketing legends played, and while imitating them, they lost touch with their natural game. Gary knew that while it is so important to learn from others, it is equally important to create ones own style.[br /]
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Getting on to the pitch to face the ball, he decided that he would play whatever comes up in a natural way, not necessarily imitating anyone. To be a versatile batsman, he had to be able to face a variety of deliveries from different bowlers. Eventually, he managed to play his natural strokes, uninfluenced by the halo effect of great stars of cricket.[br /]
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As a batsman, Gary thought he played fairly good in his first Test at the international level, but as a bowler, he was not satisfied. He made up his mind to practice more, to improve his bowling up to world class standards. But he was happy to know that his hard work to emerge as a useful batsman was showing up now. As far as Gary was concerned, he was not happy to be a useful cricketer. He wanted to be ‘more than useful’ batsman. He wanted to be a reliable and contributing batsman for the West Indies team.[br /]
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The first Test match was very crucial for him as it was going to decide the direction that his career might take. There were so many people telling him to play like some experienced players and if he did, he would lose his natural game. On the other hand, if he wanted to play in an unorthodox manner trying to create his own shots, then the experienced bowlers would point out his weakness and hit him right where it would pain – trapping him to play a shot he was not naturally adept at. He however, managed to maintain the balance in blending his own as well as in adopting other's styles.[br /]
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[b]The Struggle for Existence[/b][br /]
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Moving through life just after his debut Test in 1953-54, was not all bed of roses for Gary Sobers. For the people in his town and league team, he was someone big – having played for the West Indies, but in the eyes of his fellow players, he was still in his larval stage. Most other fellow cricketers were financially well off and it was then, for the first time, that Gary realized the importance of earning money.[br /]
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To add to his troubles, while enjoying his leisure time at a cinema hall, he experienced immense pain on the lateral side of his belly. He was frightened, obsessed with the thought of losing his hard-earned position in the team. Chronic appendicitis was diagnosed by a doctor. That frightened him more as he was not ready to go through the removal of appendicitis. Ultimately, he preferred to resist the inflammation of appendicitis by taking 18 injections and succeeded in keeping himself on the field for the rest of the series. Finally when the series was over, the doctors operated him and nipped it out.[br /]
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Gary was also struggling on other fronts. He took a job to sustain and achieve financial freedom. But it was not something he liked to do. As long as a man indulges in something, he loves to do his job, is only a way for him to survive on the economic front. Gary felt a thorn as if a thorn had stuck in his heart. Every moment he was dying, not because the work was hard but because it was meaningless to him.[br /]
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Another area he struggled for, was his image as a bowler. He was into the team as a left arm orthodox bowler and now he had decided to grow as a good batsman. People around him did not find it a good idea for a young bowler to become a batsman. In fact, Gary’s dream was even bigger - to shine out as a good bowler, competent batsman and agile fielder. He was plagued with problems from all fronts, and experienced touching the 'pits', as he faced insecurity. But as its turns out, the darkest hour is just before dawn. A glorious future lay before him. Who among us knew that a small kid from Barbados, in his later life, would be knighted by Queen Elizabeth of England, for his immense contribution to world cricket.[br /]
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[b]The Dawn of Great Career[/b][br /]
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The hospitalization soon after his first Test series had placed Gary’s career into quandary. Doctors had advised him not to return to field for some time, but Gary was so eager that he almost grabbed an opportunity to play in a tour to Bermuda. He represented Everton Week’s team. For the first time in his life, Gary Sobers left the shores of West Indies to play in some other country. He wanted exposure of international class cricket and was determined to do whatever it would take, to have a bag full of experience.[br /]
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[b]First Test Series on Foreign Land[/b][br /]
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Garfield Sobers had never traveled by train before he was 19 years old. That too, he did in New Zealand while he was on a tour. When he returned from Bermuda, he found that he was selected for the West Indies Cricket Team touring New Zealand for a test series.[br /]
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The wickets were not ideal and up to the mark compared to what Sobers had earlier played in Barbados and other West Indian islands. He played four test matches but did not give any outstanding performance at any of the test matches. Uncommon men are not men with uncommon talents, they instead, are men with uncommon spirit and uncommon attitude. While any other player at the very beginning of his career could have blamed the pitch and the cold weather, Gary maintained his integrity and honesty, accepting that it was his performance, which was not up to the mark. He also admitted that it was his task to take his performance beyond his present capability to match the variations of pitch and climate.[br /]
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Upon returning to Barbados, he saw chances of being selected once again to the team for a tour of England, fading away. In his heart, he knew that he already had got valuable opportunities and that he couldn’t afford to lose many. He already had lost one of them. But true talent always has enough opportunities to shine out. Before the selection of the team for the England tour, he was called to play in a trial match. Seventy runs in the first innings and 40 in second innings boosted his confidence. He played well enough at most of the trial matches and was spotted by selectors. But, before he could get him in the team once again, destiny had planned a better bargain instead.[br /]
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Gary suffered from throat pain and wished he could neglect it. The pain got worse and Gary was forced to consult the doctor. "It is your tonsils – get them out," said the doctor. Once again he saw his chances of getting into the team withering away. Selectors rescued Gary promising him a place in the team for England provided he got his tonsils operated.[br /]
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[b]Gary in England[/b][br /]
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Gary was both happy and hopeful for his England tour, on two counts. Happy, because he was to represent the West Indies team and hopeful because if at all he managed to amass a pile of runs and a bag full of wickets, he had a great future ahead. A good performance in the Test Series could earn him a contract to play for an English county. It was a dream for Gary to play for a season in the English County.[br /]
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Finally, the day of reckoning arrived when he landed on the Southampton coast as a member of the visiting West Indies Test team. To be in a cold, unpredictable and fluctuating weather of England was totally a new and raw experience for Gary, during the 1957 tour.[br /]
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He was introduced to a new world for the first time. Subway trains, lush green fields and spring weather of England amazed him. All that was secondary, as his goal was to shine out in that tour and claim a permanent place in the West Indies team.[br /]
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Compared to most other fellow cricketers of the team, considering his inexperience and age, Gary did a wonderful and useful job. For the first time, he got to open the innings with Sir Frank Worell. Frank was an outstanding batsman and opening with him was a learning experience for Gary. Joining him as a middle order batsman, he accepted the challenge and gave a satisfactory performance. That series earned him a contract for the Lancashire League team. This was an honor in itself. He signed a contract to play for the county for the next season and returned to Barbados.[br /]
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Mom was happy the way her son was shaping up. Everyone else was happy now, for he was earning along with ‘just’ playing cricket. For Gary, it was a dream come true, doing something he just loved to do, and being paid for what he really loved to do.[br /]
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The time came when Gary had to prove himself as a professional cricketer. In county cricket, it depends on the professional cricketers to contribute a major share of runs and wickets. Gary knew this and had made up his mind to give his best. Picking up 98 wickets and scoring more than 800 runs in that season was considerable performance, if not an outstanding one. With his heart brimming with self confidence, he returned home from a that county season. The time would now prove destiny right as it was on the threshold of delivering a great cricketer from Barbados, Garfield Sobers.[br /]
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[b]The Sharpened Saw[/b][br /]
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Gary was taken by surprise to find himself playing a mature game back home. County matches had sharpened his bat like a razor as he began scoring effortlessly from the blade of his bat. His bowling also had improved remarkably then.[br /]
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The greatest change was that he had also emerged as a fast bowler. In the county, he was called to bowl with the new ball, considering his position as a professional cricketer, naturally, he had to deliver fast balls. He made a shift from left arm orthodox spin to left arm fast bowling. Just one season at league matches in beautiful, picturesque grounds of England, had sharpened his skills both as a batsman and as a bowler.[br /]
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[b]Elevation to Cricketing Stardom[/b][br /]
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Picture a diminutive boy, holding a bat carved of a flat log in hand, telling his mamma that one day she would see his name in record books. Mamma then had laughed at the innocent child. Even she was not aware that in a few years to come, that little child would write a new chapter in the world records book of cricket. The little kid, turned young man of 21, Gary Sobers, set out to create a mighty record.[br /]
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Gary was picked up once again by the West Indies cricket selection committee for the Test team to play against Pakistani side touring the island. In the first test, he made an average performance, and left for Jamaica to play against Pakistan in the second test. On the first day, he cleared the psychological wall of nervous 90s to score his first century. At the end of the day, the pair of Gary and Conrad Hunte was still on fire, with Gary Sobers playing at 226. Next day, when the pair had already scored over 450 runs, they were looking ahead to set a world record for the highest partnership. Unfortunately, Conrad Hunte was run-out while attempting a hasty run. Two great batsmen were still to come, Everton Weeks who went on to score 84 making way finally for Clyde Walcott to join Sobers.[br /]
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For the first time, Gary figured out the chance of establishing a new world record of the highest individual score. Till then it was 364 runs logged by Sir Len Hutton of England. At the end of the day's play, he scored nearly 300 runs. But when he went to bed, instead of being happy, he had some strange pang of guilt. It was due to the thought that he was putting a personal achievement ahead of the team’s goal. Next morning, he was assured by Clyde that he would help Gary to have more of the strike to cross the record, so that Gerry Alexander, the West Indian captain could declare the innings. He saw the ball as big as a football, directing it all around the field, clearing the 300 mark, moving steadily towards 364 mark.[br /]
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The crowd was cheering with joy as the whole atmosphere was electrifying. He had reached the mark of 364 runs and equaled the world record. The Pakistanis had no answer to Gary’s shots. They could not find any way to extinguish the fire that was set on the scoreboard by Gary’s bat. Hanif Mohammed, the rival bowler tried every trick of the trade by bowling in variations, but was unable to dislodge Gary. Willing to try something new, he decided to bowl with his odd hand and delivered a slower ball left-handed. Gary pushed it, took a single and reached the other end safely. He had made 365 runs in one innings ! A new World Record ! The lad from Barbados had made it big among giants of the world, all at 21![br /]
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[b]Celebration[/b][br /]
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Spectators rushed on to the ground to embrace Gary. No force would have possibly handled the spirited crowd that was overflowing with joy. People lifted him on their shoulders. It was celebrations, all way as the whole atmosphere at Kingston ground, Jamaica was charged with exhilaration. Gradually, the crowd settled down but the pitch had been damaged by then. Play had to be discontinued.[br /]
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[b]Sobers attracting Criticism[/b][br /]
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Scoring 365 runs was not through and through a great celebration for Gary. The people who were excited his setting a new world record soon began to criticize his achievement. He was accused that a personal landmark had been achieved at the cost of a chance victory. But as the great psychologist Carl Jung has said,[br /]
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"You can’t keep every one, always happy, so why please others ? Keep following your inner guidance and chances are that one day you will top the world." Gary was not much moved by the criticism. He was just getting used to being criticized. After all it was a professional hazard of becoming a public figure.[br /]
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[b]Rising Batsman[/b][br /]
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Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers, the cricketer from Barbados was now featured in the headlines throughout the cricket playing countries. He now knew that all the world’s eyes were on him, and the expectations from him for the future on the high. Keeping all cricket lovers, his captain, and most important, keeping himself happy, he scored a century in both the innings of the next test match. In spite of the fact that he originally began his career as a left arm spin bowler and a useful batsman, he was now emerging as a more reliable batsman. He could now bowl fast with the new ball, bowl spin in the middle and of course pile up runs for his team. He now now rightly knocked the doors of International Cricket to stake the claim for the position of the world's best all rounder.[br /]
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[b]Gary Sobers Rescuing Radcliffe[/b][br /]
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Lancashire League Cricket team, or the Radcliffe had a two-year contract with Gary Sobers. Another season approached and Gary landed in England, this time determined to score a thousand runs and pick hundred wickets. Radcliffe was comparatively a weaker team but his efforts helped them reach the finals of League. He renewed the contract for three more years and during that period played a major part in winning the League as well as Wood Cup.[br /]
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[b]Gary on Fire[/b][br /]
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Gary was picked up once again in 1958, for the West Indies team touring India and Pakistan. It seemed the tour was going to be a great one for Gary as in the first test he scored 141 runs. A pain in his back, which he had been neglecting for quite sometime, now worsened and he had to consult a physician. After treatment and quick recuperation, he went on to score two more centuries in that series against India. Three centuries in a series – it looked as if this man knew only the language of centuries.[br /]
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A black sheep was weaving a conspiracy to fix the match, particularly centering young Gary Sobers during his next tour to Pakistan.[br /]
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[b]Match Fixing[/b][br /]
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As far as cricket is concerned, there is no scope to say – "In those good old days", for the reason that as early as in 1958, the trails of match fixing could be traced. In three consecutive matches, while Gary Sobers attempted to play a ball with pads, which was certainly leaving the stumps, he was given out – leg before the wicket, in cricketing parlance. All the three times, the bowler was Fazal Mahmood. He got furious and even said that he wanted to shorten the tour and return home. There wasn't an iota of doubt whether the decisions were manipulated and biased. Even their captain Gerry Alexander was given out, which was again a wrong decision beyond any doubt. [br /]
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Gary was concerned about his form and reputation as a batsman. Incidentally one of his teammates approached him and said that a well known figure, connected to the cricket world had already declared that Gary Sobers would not be able to score a single century again Pakistan. That was a clear pointer toward match fixing. Gary was really disturbed by such people who were giving a bad name to the game. Undeterred, Gary got hold of his mood and rekindled his spirits to notch 75 valuable runs in the third test against Pakistan.[br /]
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The trip to the Indian sub-continent provided him a mixed bag of memories. A big enough injection to cure his back, the conspiracy during the Pakistan tour and the rationing of liquor in India, due to strict enforcement of prohibition within the country, were not at all pleasant memories. In spite of it all, the tour boosted his confidence and gave him experience that later helped him to shine out as the ‘World’s Best All-rounder’.[br /]
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[b]Knocking at the Doors of Death[/b][br /]
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It was time for another season for Lancashire League, England and Gary accompanied by a playmate, Collie Smith went to play there. They had a great season in the county. Both of them were making great plans to enjoy on their return to Barbados on completion of the season. One day, Gary was driving his car with Collie Smith with Tom Dowdney accompanying them. The car was moving swiftly on a beautiful road while Gary’s mind was full of future dreams, and suddenly even before he could understand, a high intensity light from a vehicle blinded his vision. The head long crash with a big bang was all that Gary could recall as he opened his eyes to see the police in an ambulance and a stretcher. Collie Smith was lying on a stretcher. Gary took a sigh of relief that Collie was not hurt. They were all taken to a hospital where a doctor later informed Gary that his buddy Collie was no more.[br /]
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Gary was shocked. Collie, his buddy, who shared some memorable moments, was no more. 'How could it be ?', he wondered. Even great people deceive themselves when facing tough times. Gary tried to drown himself in liquor to get over Collie’s death. It’s not that great people don’t fall down. It’s the speed, with which they rise up once again, with renewed and re-kindled spirit, is where their greatness lies. Gary Sobers gave himself time to recover from the shock, took himself out of liquor and immersed himself in his grand addiction – cricket. He was ready to take on the opposition on the field once more. He has often mentioned in a conversation with a very close friend that Collie accompanied him, each time that he went to bat ![br /]
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[b]Meeting the Legend[/b][br /]
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"Thanks very much, son, I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me," said Sir Don Bradman as Gary Sobers returned to the pavilion. After hitting rock solid 132 runs at a quick pace, Sobers got out and as he returned to the dressing room, another cricketing legend, Sir Don Bradman expressed his appreciation for Gary's explosive display with the willow. That occurred during the West Indies tour of Australia, Gary’s first trip of the continent in the Southern Hemisphere.[br /]
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In that series, Sobers scored two centuries and gave a smashing answer to the tabloid headlines that said "Sobers can’t play Richie Benaud", the famous Australian captain then. Meeting the Don on that tour on several occasions, was a mutant factor for Gary’s cricket. Those meetings helped him to think from a new, empowering paradigm. But the best thing he received was an invitation from Sir Donald Bradman to play for South Australia, the following year. Sobers, looking forward to such an occasion, promptly accepted it.[br /]
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When he returned to Australia for his first season there, he was offered a public relations job. The man he worked for was much interested in golf. Gary developed an altogether new interest in golf during that stay. It was all learning and sharpening the skill, being in Australia for Gary Sobers, but the performance was not what he anticipated. He didn’t do extraordinarily, however, neither did he fare less. He scored a double century at his best.[br /]
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[b]Knee Operation[/b][br /]
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Matches were going on as Gary went on showing consistent performance, in almost every match. He played impressively in the India v/s West Indies Test series, in 1962 and left for England to play for Radcliffe. It was the last year of his contract and he decided to put his heart out, in his game. During that season, Gary scored about 900 runs and picked 98 wickets. But before he could celebrate, his knee pain, which he had been bearing for sometime, became acute. It was time to proceed to Australia for another season and here was a knee that troubled him. He informed the Australian host about his predicament. He was however assured medical aid and requisite care by his host in South Australia.[br /]
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Ultimately, he got a checkup done and the doctor advised an operation. Initially, he was reluctant but finally, he made up his mind and allowed the surgeon to operate on his knee.[br /]
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[b]A Cricketer Reciprocating[/b][br /]
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Gary was indebted to the Australians, not only for the reason that they paid his expenses, but also for the care they had taken. Gary was back on the ground fitter than ever before. He wanted to express gratitude to the Australians, and he picked a way only a Gary Sobers could.[br /]
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In Australia, he was to play for the Prospect Club in Grade Championship and for South Australia, in the Sheffield Shield. It was a commitment he made to himself that he would somehow manage to grab those titles. In that season, he achieved that distinction, a mark which was untouched by any other player in Australian league matches. Scoring 1,000 runs and picking 50 wickets, he established a new record for the Australian league. And that was just the beginning. Next year, during the 1963-64 season, Gary played a significant role to help Prospect Club to win the Grade Championship, and South Australia won the Sheffield Shield. What a way to reciprocate the love showered on him by the generous Australians ! Gary didn’t speak a word of gratitude, instead, he let his bat do all the rest.[br /]
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[b]Gary Sobers in PR[/b][br /]
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When he returned to Australia, he was offered a job of public relations officer with John Martin Store, Adelaide. Playing cricket throughout the continent and traveling for the PR work, he thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful stay at Australia – a period etched in gold, in his memory forever.[br /]
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[b]Lilliput to Captaincy[/b][br /]
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Gary Sobers had now established himself in the realms of world cricket, and had emerged as the world’s finest all rounder. He continued playing for the West Indies Test team on its tour to England and contributed in their winning of the series. It was in 1964, while he was playing county matches in England that he received a letter from the West Indies Cricket Board, offering him the captaincy of his team. It was an invitation to lead the team recognizing both, his cricketing and leadership talents.[br /]
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Former captain Frank Worell had called for a retirement and Gary was the best option for the selectors. As far as Gary was concerned, it had already dawned upon him, but at the same time, he was concerned too. Frank Worell had set a remarkable standard as captain that Gary wondered whether he could ever meet. Here was a man who loved cricket and was expected to meet new challenges as a captain. Gary Sobers accepted the captaincy of his team in all humility. The small boy playing with a Lilliput ball in the streets of Barbados, now was supposed to head the entire team of world class players.[br /]
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While he was in England, there was a whole lot of people on the other side of globe, in Australia, waiting for Gary to help them win another trophy. He was in a dilemma. To continue playing in England or to go to Australia. Love won the conflict within Gary’s mind. Even if he had desired to forget the love from Australians, he could not have been able to do that. An intense bond was pulling him. Consequently, he took a flight to Australia and this time, it was Gary Sobers, captain of West Indies, visiting Australia. He stayed there to spend few days with friends and sponsors. Finally, he took a flight back home, to get ready for the forthcoming combat ![br /]
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Gary Sobers played his first series as captain in his own country. Among the most memorable of all the matches was a test played in Bridgetown, Barbados. This was the place where the dreams of the small Lilliputian Gary were still in air, and here he was now playing from the highest position a player can ever reach while playing for his nation. West Indies won that series with Gary Sobers as captain.[br /]
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[b]Gary Sobers – The Captain[/b][br /]
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Sobers opened a new career as captain of West Indies with a series win against Australia. To continue the winning spree, he led the West Indies team to a tour of England. In that series, he continued scoring centuries at a consistent rate. A particular innings when he scored 163 runs not out, rescuing West Indies from a brink of defeat was indeed a memorable one. Scoring 722 runs at an unbeatable average of 103.14, and bagging 20 wickets and 10 catches, he gave a wonderful all round account, clinching the series under his astute captaincy.[br /]
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But as they say, time takes its toll and in 1968, the West Indies team visiting Australia was hammered down by the competent and renewed Australian team. Sobers had a bad taste of those test matches, losing the series 3–1.[br /]
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[b]Celebrated Sixes[/b][br /]
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The year 1968, was not the best of years for Sobers as his team lost badly against Australia. But that was a team event and everyone had his share in the teams defeat. Prior to the series, Gary had a moment of personal triumph, which till date no other cricketer had achieved. He excelled this time playing on a contract with the Nottinghamshire County. During a match, Malcolm Nash was bowling to Gary who was determined to play big shots. The team needed about 300 runs to win and someone had to take charge and have the ball move around the boundary. Determined Gary played lofty shots, pushing the ball beyond the boundary. Dispatching the ball over the fence, he hit a the first sixer, followed by two more sixes in two consecutive deliveries. Gary turned the next delivery for a six. Nash was taking long strides towards his run up, feeling frustrated, yet determined to try something new. A beautiful possibility had popped then in Sobers mind – why not try hitting two more sixes and create something that has never been done before ! Nash tried a slower delivery and zoom…it went over the rope for a six ! Both Sobers and Nash’s hearts began thumping hard. One man cruelly smashing anything being thrown up to him beyond the fence and the other, feeling like a docile prey being swallowed by a lion. With all that he had learned till date, Nash tried to surprise Gary with a faster delivery. Gary hit the ball, taking the aerial route for another six recorded ! Gary Sobers had done that which was never before achieved in the history of world cricket. No batsman had scored six sixes in six balls in first class or test level game. Much later, Ravi Shastri hit Tilak Raj for six sixes in an over in a first class match in India to emulate Gary's feat.[br /]
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[b]On the Other End of Career[/b][br /]
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Gary was now reaching a point in his career where people would normally retire from the game. West Indies performed badly in 1968-69 under his captaincy. But the spirit to get back remained in him. He took a break from his cricketing career to think of things other than cricket.[br /]
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[b]Extending Love, Beyond Cricket[/b][br /]
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Cricket had been the first and only love for this man, all his life. Family members and other mates had often called for his attention towards marriage. He was married to cricket, hence Gary did not rush into it. He liked his way of life and enjoyed freedom. He was seriously involved in relationships twice, once in Australia and once in Barbados. Marriage was always on cards but it never materialized. While on the Indian tour, he became engaged to a beautiful Indian film star, Anju Mahendru. But that too turned out to be a nought. Gary's innings as a carefree bachelor finally ended when he married Miss Pru Kirby, an Australian blonde on September 11, 1969, in England. The couple had two sons, Matthew born in 1971 and Daniel born in 1974. [br /]
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[b]Bouncing Back[/b][br /]
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With a renewed spirit, re-vitalized body and a better frame of mind, Gary Sobers bounced back in the game, in 1972. It was the game between ‘Rest of the World’ and Australia, in Australia. Playing for the Rest Of The World, he got out on the very first ball he faced, off Denis Lillie. But this man had a remarkable ability to put the past behind and go for success. In the next innings, he came back hammering Lillie all round the ground for a towering score of 254 runs.[br /]
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Sir Donald Bradman had this to say on Sobers' innings : "I believe Gary Sobers' innings was probably the best ever seen in Australia. The people who saw Sobers have enjoyed one of the historic events of cricket. They were privileged to have such an experience."[br /]
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[b]Retirement[/b][br /]
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Look at every event in Gary’s life and it definitely calls for a celebration. But, unfortunately it would be sandwiched between two mishaps. Once again he suffered from a knee injury in 1972. The injury was not very severe. He could have continued to play, had he got that hit in the early years of his career. But at the age of 38, with 22 years of constant cricket behind him, he could hardly handle it. Bowing to his body's requirement, he decided to rest, after a career span of over 20 years, Gary Sobers gracefully retired from first class cricket, while he was at the top of his career in 1974.[br /]
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[b]A Knight Without Armor[/b][br /]
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Knight in the shining armor is an image that pops up in most people’s minds as they think about a knight. But here was a man, knighted for being in the white, a player’s uniform for 20 years. Queen Elizabeth II of England knighted Garfield Sobers in 1975, for the contribution he made to the world cricket. Since then, the little chap from Barbados came to be called as Sir Garfield Sobers – the world’s best all rounder.[br /]
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[b]Later Years[/b][br /]
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After retiring from first class cricket, Gary continues to live a peaceful life in West Indies. He makes occasional comments on the issues of contemporary cricket, yet stays out of controversies. His latest comments include the ones he made on the match-fixing issue that erupted in India, expressing surprise about how a man who served cricket could ever play a part to dirty the game.[br /]
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[b]Recognition[/b][br /]
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Barbados, the home of the living legend Sir Gary Sobers, declared him the ‘National Hero’ in 1998. To add to his glory, the Australian Cricket Board named the ‘Batsman of the Series’ trophy after the master blaster.[br /]
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[b]The World’s Best All Rounder[/b][br /]
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The world has seen many cricketers, great batsmen like Sir Don Bradman, Sir William Grace, great bowlers like Dennis Lillie, Sir Richard Hadlee, and great fielders like Gus Logie, Jonty Rhodes, among others. But never before or after him, has any other player with a rare combination of all such faculties had played cricket, to match Gary Sobers. He was an outstanding batsman, who began as a left arm spin bowler. In due time, he worked hard to develop his batting ability and emerged as a great batsman, holding a world record individual score of 365 runs not out. Another West Indian, Brian Lara went on to eclipse this record, recently.[br /]
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Sobers was equally effective on the field. Of his time, he surely was one of the finest and quickest fielders. There’s an incident that brings it out clearly. Sobers was in Australia and he had to reach Trinidad via New York. He had to rush to make it to the ground to play against the Indians. Morning 9:30, he reached the town where the match was being played and even without taking tea or breakfast, he rushed to the ground. His eyes revealed the lack of sleep and rest that he badly needed. In spite of all, Frank Worell placed him at a key position and he took two beautiful diving catches.[br /]
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Gary Sobers was not only a great batsman and fielder, but he was also a versatile bowler. Initially, he bowled left arm spin, but gradually he added left arm medium fast, Chinaman and googly into his arsenal of bowling.[br /]
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Gary Sobers plays cricket no more but enjoys it as he watches young kids playing Lilliput. Who knows? Some day, another Gary might emerge off the streets of Barbados?[br /]
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