West indies cricket team: Cricket News & Match Updates

Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers popularly known as Sir Gary Sobers was a West Indian cricketer, considered by many authorities the most gifted all-around player of all time. He was an all-rounder not only in the general sense of the term, but apart from being an outstanding batsman and fielder (particularly close-to the wicket fielding), Sobers the bowler was so versatile that he could bowl three different styles - left-arm seam and swing, slow left-arm orthodox, and left-arm wrist spin. Such was his popularity that Bradman himself called Sobers the "five-in-one cricketer".

Gary Sobers was born on 28 July 1936 in Bridgetown, Barbados and was the fifth of six children. At birth he had two extra fingers, one on each hand, which he removed himself during childhood. From an early age, Sobers demonstrated the talent and ability to play with great skill almost any sport involving a ball, particularly cricket, football and basketball. He and his similarly talented brother Gerald helped their Bay Street Boys' School team to win the primary school Inter-School Cricket championship for three consecutive years. Due to his impressive skill, Sobers became in great demand so much that at an age of 13 he was recruited to play for two cricket teams. These were the Kent St Philip club in the Barbados Cricket League (BCL) and the Wanderers club. Sobers gained useful experience by bowling to Wanderers batsmen, including West Indies Test player Denis Atkinson, at practice in the nets.    Read More...