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The Boy in the Hospital Bed and the Greatest Cricketer Who Ever Lived

Sun, Jul 19, '26 at 7:57 AM

Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026. With his passing, cricket lost not merely its greatest all-rounder, but perhaps the finest cricketer ever to grace the game. When I read the heartbreaking news on Caribbean Cricket's message board, my mind travelled instantly to another day that has remained etched in my memory for almost sixty years – February 28, 1967.


It is not an easy day for me to forget. I was eight years old, lying in a hospital bed after the doctors had quietly told my mother there was little more they could do. At that very moment, two of my childhood heroes, Rohan Kanhai and Gary Sobers, were preparing to do battle at Bourda.

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Sun, Jul 19, '26 at 8:07 AM

Brilliant....

Sun, Jul 19, '26 at 8:44 AM

Beautifully done!👏

Sun, Jul 19, '26 at 10:50 AM

@Onionman0

Thank you, my brother. When I got the news yesterday, I teared up.

Sun, Jul 19, '26 at 10:51 AM

@kgbcan

Thank you, sir. That is why I try to live life to the fullest each day. I didn’t think I would be here.

Sun, Jul 19, '26 at 12:07 PM

Nice ...💯

Tue, Jul 21, '26 at 5:46 AM

Folks, is there any news about the state funeral, day. time online viewing?

Tue, Jul 21, '26 at 9:54 AM

@CricSham

Beautiful prose....🤗

Tue, Jul 21, '26 at 11:44 AM

@CricSham

Very well written, my friend.

Wed, Jul 22, '26 at 10:42 AM

@mikesiva

@sgtdjones

Thank you gentlemen.

Thu, Jul 23, '26 at 5:48 AM

I am confused. I’m reading the notification from the Barbados government about the viewing arrangements and it listed his middle name as Auburn. But all of the official Cricket records has it as.Aubrun. Anyone know for sure which one is correct? I have to believe the Barbados government will not make such a mistake.

Thu, Jul 23, '26 at 11:45 PM

thank you so much for that great piece. Since his passing, I am so happy to read how much people talk about Sir Gary as a person much more than the ultimate cricketing machine. I would have loved to attend the funeral if I could but I will be there in spirit for sure.

Fri, Jul 24, '26 at 1:23 AM

@CricSham

Garfield St Aubrun Sobers

The state funeral for National Hero, the late Sir Garfield Sobers, will be held at Kensington Oval on Wednesday, July 29, at 10:00 a.m.

https://www.cbc.bb/main-stories/state-funeral-for-sir-garfield-sobers-set-for-july-29/
Fri, Jul 24, '26 at 11:22 AM

@openning

Got it. Thanks opening!