The story behind how Sobers’ miraculous feat was caught on camera
In cricket’s golden history, West Indies’ legendary all-rounder, Sir Garfield Sobers became the first batsman to dispatch all six deliveries in an over the boundary ropes for a maximum. This memorable moment took place in a County game in Swansea on 31st August 1968. Not only Sobers’ feat is astounding but the story behind how it was captured on camera is equally enticing.
Also read: Anil Kumble and the Kotla Magic!
The victim: Malcolm Nash
Playing for Nottinghamshire, the legendary West Indies all-rounder targeted bowler Malcolm Nash of Glamorgan. Nash was a left-arm fast bowler but decided to bowl left-arm spin against one of the greatest batters of all-time. This decision backfired spectacularly as his name gained infamy for eternity. Despite bowling well in the match, picking up 4 wickets for 100 runs, his over of 36 runs was the one which everyone remembered.
Over 50 years ago Garfield Sobers became the first cricketer to smash 6-sixes in an over. See the rare feat ! pic.twitter.com/xeda4KVmL1
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) February 20, 2019
John Norman: The hero we all deserve
The cricketing world owes a debt of gratitude to one man for the footage of Sobers’ historic feat being available. The man in question – John Norman. Norman worked as a producer for BBC Wales back then and was asked to shut the cameras down. But he decided to keep them rolling, deciding to concentrate on the Caribbean legend. And the rest as they say, is history!
Here’s what Norman told The Independent on the incident:
“We were told to go home by Grandstand, but John Lewis, the cameraman and a keen cricketer asked if we could keep the camera running because he wanted to take a look at Sobers through a fixed lens. I rang Derek Griffin, the recording engineer in Cardiff, and told him to switch the tape on, just in case. It was all really a chapter of accidents. Fifteen minutes after it was all over, the Grandstand producer who had told us to stand down rang back and begged me not to spill the beans.”
