Compliments of the Nation News

The Cricket Legends of Barbados had a wonderful day out as they played 18 holes of golf at the Royal Westmoreland Course. The headliner was National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers, the greatest cricket allrounder of all time, and other former Test players including Desmond Haynes, David Allan and Reverend Wes Hall.

Here, Terry Mayers of World Cup Barbados hitting his approach shot as Sir Garry follows the path of the ball.

Compliments of the Nation News

AT HOME IN THE OVAL. Sir Garfield Sobers has moved – the statue, that is. The 20-foot replica of cricket's greatest player was moved from the Garfield Sobers Roundabout in Wildey, St Michael, where it had been for over three years, and is now at Kensington Oval. Early yesterday, workmen took down the statue and were quick in setting it up at the new home, near the entrance of the Sir Garfield Sobers Players' Pavilion, just alongside the new Pickwick Walk. The statue is part of the overall Kensington Oval re-development project as the island prepares to host matches in the 2007 International Cricket Council World Cup. Here, a worker moves alongside the statue at the Oval.

	Former West Indies cricketers having a hearty laugh. Front row from left are Sir Garry Sobers, Gordon Greenidge and Sir Viv Richards. Behind them from left are Richie Richardson, Ian Bishop and Desmond Haynes. In the back row are Courtney Walsh (left) and Curtly Ambrose
Garfield St. Auburn Sobers was a supreme batsman, he could bowl pace or spin and was a brilliant fielder as well as being a superb captain. He is without a doubt the worlds greatest all rounder.

Lara thanks Sir Garry

Date November 27, 2005 Compliments of the Nation News

ADELAIDE - Brian Lara, who became Test cricket's all-time run-getter yesterday, has once again cited the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers as an inspiration in his latest achievement.

"(Sir Garfield) is a great man and someone I have great respect for," Lara told the media after he surpassed Allan Border's 11-year-old record for the most career Test runs.

"He played 93 Test matches for West Indies and did yeoman service for them and he helped me along the way, not just in international cricket.

"I remember when I was 16 or even younger playing in the Sir Garry Sobers Tournament in Barbados, and him looking at me and saying from that day he thought I would be a Test cricketer.

"It's nice to fulfil his dream and I know he will appreciate what I have done."

Lara also paid tribute to Border, with whom he said there were some similarities.

"Looking at the newspapers today and reading what Allan Border had to say - such a humble man, a man I have great respect for," Lara said.

"He's someone who I suppose has walked the same walk I have done in many ways, in playing for Australia in the 80s and having to play that pivotal role all the time, and I'm really happy to be up there with him."

After a string of failures in the two previous Tests, Lara entered the third Test at the Adelaide Oval on 10 961 runs, still 213 adrift of Border's record and searching for an innings of merit to salvage an otherwise wretched series.

He proceeded to rack up his eighth Test double century en route to establishing a new mark of 11 187 runs in his 121st match.

"I came here to play four Test matches and I like to score 100 runs a Test match. Until Adelaide, it looked really dim but I'm really proud of it and I'm really proud to have achieved it," Lara said. (CMC)

Interviewed by the Nation News following the Oval Test disaster in April 2003.

He said he just couldn’t understand what transpired at Kensington Oval on Saturday evening.

“What is happening is difficult to understand,” said Sir Garfield. “Coming back from South Africa, where they did so well with the bat, and not seeing the England bowlers they probably underestimated them.”

The tourists secured their first Test series victory in the Caribbean since 1968 with Saturday’s eight-wicket win in Barbados.

Ironically Sir Garfield was the captain 36 years ago when England, under Colin Cowdrey last triumphed in the Caribbean. West Indies declared twice in the fourth match in Trinidad and England won, taking the series 1-0.

Brian Lara's side suffered a 3-0 defeat in South Africa prior to England’s visit, but scored eight centuries in a high-scoring four-Test series.

In contrast, West Indies were bowled out for a record low 47 by England in the first Test and tumbled to a Barbados record 94 all out in the third.

West Indies lost by ten wickets at Sabina Park, seven wickets at Queen’s Park Oval, and eight wickets at Kensington Oval.

“They have a lot of ability, they are a very good team,” Sir Garfield said.

The 67-year-old legend rejected calls that Lara should be replaced as captain even though his team could concede their first ever series whitewash at home.

Sobers made his test debut in the fifth test against England in early 1954 batting at number 9 and took 4-81 with the ball. It was not until 1958 in the third test against Pakistan that amid scenes of wild excitement, he surpassed Len Hutton's test record score of 364. He batted for 10 hours 14 minutes, hit 38 fours and put on a mammoth 446 in partnership with Conrad Hunte. Sir Garfield Sobers had shot to stardom in the space of one innings and he scored a century in both innings (125 & 109 not out) in the next test.

Taking over as captain against Australia in early 1965, Sobers led the Windies to a 2-1 series win. He recorded his best bowling of his test career with 6-73 in the second innings of the first test against Australia in 1968-69.

In the third test against India in early 1971 he made a century (178 not out) and took his 200th test wicket in the fourth test before another century (132) in the fifth test 1974 Sobers became the first player to score 8000 test runs (during the second test) and ended with 8032, then a record.


Sobers was on hand to congratulate Brian Lara when Lara made his 375 to brake his own long standing record. There has never been and probably never will be another Gary...Barbados' brightest and best sports personality and a wonderful ambassador for our small country.

001 Vivian Richards	002 Vivian Richards	003 Vivian Richards	005 Andy Roberts
006 Desmond Haynes	007 Joel Garner	008 Gordon Greenidge	012 Curtly Ambrose
013 Sir Garfield Sobers	014 Michael Holding	016 Clive Lloyd

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