Born in Barbados in 1936, Sir Gary Sobers is generally considered to be the best all-round
cricketer the world has ever seen.
Sobers was a great left-handed batsman, a
bowler who could open with fast-medium balls or
bowl varieties of slow balls, an excellent fielder, a good
captain and a universally liked sportsman.
He played in 93 Tests, nineteen as captain, scoring 8032 runs, (a record, until passed by Boycott) averaging 57.78, took 235
wickets, (second to Lance Gibbs among the West Indians), and held 109 catches.
Gary Sobers also captained the Rest of the World side in the 1970s. Sobers held record Test score, 365 not out against
Pakistan (until passed by Brian Lara's 375), and hit six sixes in an over against Glamorgan in 1968.
In his career Sobers scored 28,315 runs (average 54.87) and took 1043 wickets (average 27.74).
Sobers was knighted in 1975.