Barbados cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89
Key Points(5)
- The cricket world is mourning the death of Barbados National Hero and legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89.
- Sobers died at his home in Highgate Gardens, Barbados, just 11 days before his 90th birthday.
- His son, Daniel Sobers, said the cricket icon had been ill for some time but remained strong until his final moments.
- “He was ailing for some time.
- His breathing had increased and we had him on oxygen.
The cricket world is mourning the death of Barbados National Hero and legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89.
Sobers died at his home in Highgate Gardens, Barbados, just 11 days before his 90th birthday. His son, Daniel Sobers, said the cricket icon had been ill for some time but remained strong until his final moments.
“He was ailing for some time. His breathing had increased and we had him on oxygen. I couldn’t believe how powerful he was; he just refused to go,” Daniel Sobers said in an interview with Starcom Network.
“This morning his rate of breathing had increased, and it came to a point where it couldn’t increase anymore. He let go, and he passed peacefully. He is now with Jackie, his other half, in heaven at peace.”
He added that his father “put up a good fight” and was “deeply loved by his family and will be deeply missed.”
Born Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers on July 28, 1936, in Barbados, he went on to become widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history.
Sobers represented the West Indies from 1954 to 1974, playing 93 Test matches and scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. He also took 235 wickets at an average of 34.03, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s most complete players.
He held the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket for 36 years after making 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, a mark that was surpassed by fellow West Indian Brian Lara in 1994.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to cricket and Barbados, Sobers was named one of the country’s 11 National Heroes by an Act of Parliament in 1998.
His death marks the end of an era for West Indies cricket and leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of players around the world.
