Mid-Day Opinion: Sobers, the greatest cricketer to walk the Earth

Sir Garfield Sobers. Pic/ICC’s Instagram

The Greatest is no more.

If Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer ever and Pele the greatest footballer ever, then Sir Garfield Sobers is the greatest cricketer to have ever walked the earth. I make this statement humbly with the highest of regards to those from earlier times, who I didn't have the good fortune to watch but I am pretty confident that not many, in fact if any, would contest the feelings that are expressed.

It was not even ten days ago when I was asked to make a video to greet and wish Sir Garfield for what would have been his 90th birthday on 28th July. I was honoured and privileged to do so and sent it a couple of days later but sadly, he won't be there to see that as well as the hundreds of other greetings from fellow cricketers from all over the world, who were unanimous that he was quite simply The Greatest.

It almost feels like yesterday when he grassed a waist-high catch that I offered when I was only on 12 in my debut Test innings. That helped me to get a half-century and keep my place in the playing eleven for the next Test. There he dropped me again when I was only on four, though this one was a difficult chance and I went on to get my first Test century. So, I owe my career take-off to The Greatest, who had one of those rare off days on the field.

Later the same year, I had the privilege and good fortune to be picked for the Rest of the World team to play five ‘Tests' in Australia. It was an experience I cherish, as it allowed me to continue to breathe the same air as The Greatest and also to see from close quarters how he prepared and his temperament in a crisis situation. Nothing fazed him, and his 254 for the Rest of the World at Melbourne, has to be amongst the finest innings in modern-day cricket.

Please remember, Sir Garfield never even wore a thigh pad against the fastest of bowlers. There was nothing he could not do on the cricket field. He was truly the original God of cricket.

When the ICC was thinking of naming a trophy for the player of its 50 overs World Cup tournament, a three-man committee was appointed which had the ICC CEO plus Mr Richie Benaud, and myself as the then Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee. If I recall correctly, the CEO wanted the award to be named after Sir Don Bradman. There is no question that Sir Don is the Greatest of batters but since it was an award for the player of the tournament, I proposed the name of Sir Garfield Sobers, who won matches with the bat, with the ball and also his fielding and Richie Benaud, who was on the phone meeting, immediately agreed and the meeting got over in minutes as there was simply no arguing against the Greatest player in the history of the game.

Sir Garfield has left us physically, but he also has left a treasure trove of wonderful memories for all those who came into contact with him and those who came to the ground just to watch him stride onto the field. It was a sight for the Gods and sadly for us humans on earth, only the Gods above will be able to savour that languid walk from now on.

May the soul of The Greatest remain in eternal peace.

8032
No. of Test runs scored by Sir Garfield Sobers @57.78 across 93 matches

235
No. of Test wickets taken by Sir Garfield Sobers @34.03 across 93 matches

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