Birthday Special: Gary Sobers – Top 3 performances in international cricket
One of the finest all-rounders of all time, Gary Sobers was the brightest star of the West Indies team during his playing career. The enigmatic southpaw scored over 8000 runs in his Test career, averaging an outstanding 57.78, along with 26 centuries. A gifted cricketer who could switch between his bowling styles, ranging from medium pace to immaculate left-arm wrist spin, Sobers was an incredible athlete. On his 87th birthday, we go down memory lane and look at some of his most iconic performances for the national team.
6/73 against Australia, 1968
West Indies started their five-match Test series against Australia with the opening Test at the Brisbane Cricket Ground under the leadership of Gary Sobers. The visitors won the toss, opted to bat and managed a decent tally of 296. Australia in reply almost drew parity as they were bowled out for 284. The Caribbeans gave a better account of themselves in the second innings and posted a target of 366 runs for the Aussies. The hosts were never in the chase after they were rocked early and kept losing wickets as Gary Sobers ran riot with career-best figures of 6/73 as West Indies won the series opener by 125 runs.
174 and 5/41 against England, 1966
Gary Sobers’ men squared up against England in Leeds in the fourth Test of the five-match series, knowing that even a draw would hand them the trophy as they were leading 2-0. Sober’s called it right at the toss and decided to have a bat in the series-deciding contest. West Indies declared their innings with a mammoth total of 500/9 on the board. The skipper led from the front, scoring a stellar 174 against the hapless English bowlers. But this wasn’t his only significant contribution of the match as he returned to scalp five Englishmen with the ball as the hosts succumbed to just 240 runs. Following on in the match, England failed to make amends and were bundled out for 205 as Sobers grabbed another three wickets to finish with eight wickets in the match.
365* against Pakistan, 1958
Pakistan travelled to Sabina Park, Jamaica to take on West Indies in the third Test after tasting defeat in the previous match. The visitors won the toss and opted to bat first, and Abdul Kardar’s side was dismissed for 328 runs following Imtiaz Ahmed’s well-compiled 122.
West Indies in their reply plummeted the Pakistani bowlers as the home side finished with a 790/3 in their reply. West Indies opener Conrad Hunte scored a masterful 260 but his innings was overshadowed by skipper Gary Sobers’, who registered a career-best 365*. Pakistan succumbed to an embarrassing defeat by an innings and 174 runs at the hands of the hosts. Sobers went on to register 824 runs in the five-match series with three centuries and as many half-centuries to his name.
