Cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89

National Hero the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers has died at the age of 89 at his home after a period of illness.

Barbados TODAY has been reliably informed that the global cricket icon, widely regarded as the greatest cricketer of all time, passed away shortly  after 9 am on Friday.

Sobers represented the West Indies between 1954 and 1974 and was, for more than 36 years, the holder of the record for the highest  individual Test score after making an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958.  

Following the conclusion of his international career, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his services to cricket.

During an illustrious career, Sobers played 93 Test matches for the West Indies, scoring 8 032 runs at an average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets at an average of 34.03.

He also made history in 1968 when he became the first batsman to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket while captaining  Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan.

(KH)