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created the greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars some 87 years ago.

Those of us who were blessed to see him between 1954 and 1974 saw the extent to which Humans can accomplish. So much so, some of us felt he was not human so unbelievable were his feats on the cricket fields. Those who did not see him live and direct but saw him thru grainy videos in black and white,I feel you were somewhat deprived and I offer you my comisserations.

On behalf of a grateful world, let me express heartiest Birthday Greetings to Sir Garfield St. Aubyn Sobers with the fervent hope that he scores 13 more singles to get to the coveted century.

In reply to Dukes

oops, just saw your post....

You remember when wavell hinds say he was a better bstsman than sir garry bet he would love to take that back

The greatest on earth or Mars

Truly the greatest WI cricketer I have seen. Had an endearing personality to go along with that talent.

In reply to Overthrow

I was not fortunate to see Sobers in action, but my father did, and he waxed lyrical about Gary whenever he spoke about cricket.

if only he won more ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREAT AND GREATEST G. ST.A. SOBERS. Oh how you thrilled a lil boy one Saturday afternoon in 1968 'fuzzy' black n white TV not withstanding.
You showed you were human when on a challenging pitch you got a golden duck thanks to John Snow. On the follow-on Cowdrey dropped you on 0 and from that moment on only God Almighty
could've batted better.

What's more after compiling a glorious 113 you turned to Cowdrey at 1st slip nodded and walked off in declaration. With Hall and Big Griff in your team you took the new ball and at the end
of the 1st over England stood 0/2 you great one sending back The Great Fiery Boycs and fantastic #3 Colin Cowdrey. After seeing that how could one not adore you and love WI cricket???

That same year you came back with the Rothmans XI from that time on I started to do as you did by throwing the ball over my head and then catching it behind my back while waiting at my run-up.

Hope you also score The Century of Life Great One.

In reply to Dukes
Well spoken Dukes as only you can! Saw him a few times at Bourda - 152 against England - and had the honour to meet him a few times too. Of course the one that stands out is driving in the same car with him from Timehri to Pegasus. Sir Gary is boss.

HB Sir Gary

i always remember playing cricket in the road at home aged about 6 or 7 and batting left handed. A neighbour comes up and says Hey, you must be Sobers . My grandmother who loved cricket always talked about the infamous 1968 declaration in the QPO. That never lessened her love for cricket or Sir Gary. People on this MB pound the Tits but they are who elevated him to the greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars

In reply to Brerzerk

That was an exciting afternoon when the Great One shared the new ball with Wes Hall. Never will forget that test:

his first ball duck, falling to John Snow,
WI following on
his century on a Sabina minefield
his bowling exploit at the start of the innings
England holding on for dear life at the end

Happy birthday Gary Sobers!!

In reply to Dukes
Happy birthday Gary!

In reply to CWWeekes
Not to rain on The Great Man's Parade but something else very significant happened in that test thanks to The Late Great Seymour Nurse.
Murray opened in the 1st innings I think but 'Skippy' sent Nurse to open with Comacho 2ND innings. With malicious intent Nurse tore into England's Snow, Brown and Jones.
In the process he broke his bat split the seat of his pants and hit the ball out of shape. You remember Sang-Hue asking him to take the edge of the bat to
knock it back in shape??? Glorious past WI

In reply to Brerzerk

Man you read my mind. Was thinking of editing my post to give some love to Seymour Nurse. He didn't get a century but he was awsome that Saturday afternoon in the 2nd innings making 60 odd I believe. Camacho at the other end was solid in defence. Nurse went crazy, beat the ball out of shape; they had to change it. No Tv at home saw all of this at the neighbor's bar up the road.

Sobers' century has to be one of the best given the state of the pitch. Note: don't remember anyone saying that the match should have been abandoned due to the state of the pitch. Don't know if any truth to this but my late uncle told the story of Gilchrist telling a Pakistani who was "running" from him "man mi have ball yu have bat tanup and bat like a man"

For a moment I though this was about Kallis.

In reply to Barry

You do know Sir Gary captained the first great West Indies team to become world champions.

Why do you think Mighty Sparrow sang his classic 'Greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars'?

It was an ode to winning by the G.O.A.T.

This little 14 years old boy, watched a cricketer walk unto the field, after his last team mate was given, cross both the batsman and the opposing team, marked his run up, then destroyed the opposition as if the team was a bunch of schoolboys playing against men.
From that day, I knew he was special.
I still call him a bully, how dear you put on your whites, and stopped the blues from winning a BCA championship.
Happy birthday, Sir.

In reply to Dukes
Dukes did you see that 152 against England? Licks like peas ask Jones, Brown and Snow

In reply to CricSham

Is water wet?

I have seen several centuries
1.165 Barbados vs Guyana 1967
2.152 WI vs England at Bourda
3. 183 ROW vs England at Lords 1970
4.108* WI vs India at Bourda 1971


BTW
RBK outbatted him