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London: Sir Garfield St Aubren Sobers, who passed away on July 17 at the age of 89, was quite simply the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen. His was a multiple talent rolled into one. Any other description of him, including calling him ‘one of the great all-rounders’ is not only nonsense, but reeks of ignorance.

An all-time great batsman is one who averages above 50 after a substantial number of Test appearances. Similarly, an all-time great bowler is he who averages below 25, again, after a significant number of caps at the highest level of the game. Sobers achieved the former; and although he didn’t accomplish the latter, this was partially because the West Indies’ burgeoning bowling strength reduced the burden with the leather on him. That notwithstanding, he proceeded to become the first all-rounder to capture 200 wickets in tests. He could swing the ball at high velocity, bowl left-arm orthodox as well as a wrist spin.

A cricketer is incomplete unless he is also a capable fielder. In this respect, Sobers was brilliant anywhere, albeit most conspicuously at short-leg to Lance Gibbs’ off-spin. In the riot-marred 1966-67 test match at the Eden Gardens, an Indian batsman edged a ball skyward to thirdman. Sobers, fielding in the slip cordon, appeared to glance at his colleagues as if to check if any of them was going to attempt the catch. Then, raced back himself like a cheetah to almost pull off an impossible pouch. In the same match, rather worryingly for Indian supporters, he raced to 70 off 85 balls, at which stage the deceptive Bhagwat Chandasekhar induced a mistimed stroke. Over and above, Sobers earned seven wickets in the match taking the new ball. One can be forgiven for being mesmerised by such omnipotence!

Sobers was at that time at the peak of his powers. His glamour and fame enveloping the cosmos. In Mumbai, during the 1st test of the series, he was introduced to Anju Mahendru, an attractive young actress. They even got engaged, before going their different ways. He later married Australian-born Prudence Kirby.

Sobers, like several West Indians of his generation, was reputed to drink and dance into the early hours even during a test match. He would return to his hotel for a short nap, wake up an hour before start of play, skip furiously with a rope to sweat out the alcohol, have a shower and turn up at the ground just in time.

I once saw him padded up at the Eden Gardens, while he was fast asleep. By the time a wicket fell and it was time for him to fill the breach, he would be woken up. Bleary-eyed, loosening and stretching his arms and legs he walked out to bat; and unerringly middle the first ball he faced.    

Sobers made his test debut against England at Kingston, Jamaica in 1954 at the age of 17. He batted at number nine; but bowling left-arm orthodox, he returned figures of four for 75 in his very first innings. His hidden genius as a flamboyant left-handed batsman would only surface four years later.

In the opening engagement in the spring of 1958 against Pakistan, he did not get an opportunity to bat at his home ground of Bridgetown, Barbados. In the second at Port of Spain, Trinidad he notched 52 and 80. Then came the encounter in Jamaica. By now promoted to number three in the batting order, he posted not merely his maiden test century, but a mammoth 365 not out, subduing Sir Len Hutton’s previous........

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