Sobers was also one of only two living National Heroes of Barbados alongside pop singer Rihanna.
He made his first-class debut for Barbados aged 16 and was capped by West Indies aged 17.
He was initially more successful as a bowler than batter – he bowled left-arm finger-spin and occasional wrist-spin as well as pace – but went on to score 26 Test centuries and finished his career with a batting average of 57.78.
He scored 28,314 in his first-class career, including 7,041 for Nottinghamshire. He took 1,043 first-class wickets and was also a superb fielder.
Though not as successful a skipper as player, he was West Indies captain between 1965 and 1972. He also captained Rest of the World XIs during tours of England and Australia.
“Not just because of the phenomenal numbers but the style, quality, substance and flair and circumstances in which he produced those performances, he is without doubt the greatest cricketer that ever lived,” said Test Match Special’s Fazeer Mohammed.
“He was the first superstar of the game, not just in the Caribbean but in the world. His career spanned the period where the game was just starting the change.
“The mere presence of a Garfield Sobers made such a huge difference to the image of what West Indies cricket was able to do.”
Cricket West Indies president Kishore Shallow paid tribute, calling Sobers a “symbol of Caribbean excellence, resilience, and possibility”.
“In the story of cricket, there are great players. There are champions. Then, there are those rare individuals who redefine the very meaning of greatness,” he said.
“Sir Garfield Sobers was the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen. His mastery of batting, bowling and fielding was unparalleled, but his true significance reached far beyond the boundary ropes.
“He emerged from the Caribbean at a time when our region was finding its voice and asserting its place on the world stage.
“Through his excellence, he gave millions across our islands and in the diaspora, a renewed belief in what was possible. He showed that greatness was not confined by the size of our nations, the geography of our islands or the circumstances of our beginnings.
“Sir Garfield Sobers became more than a sporting icon. He became a symbol of Caribbean excellence, resilience, and possibility.
“His achievements brought pride to Barbados, inspiration to the West Indies and admiration from every corner of the cricketing world.”
