Sir Garfield Sobers, known as Garry, died on 17 July 2026, just 11 days before turning 90. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, described the moment as "a solemn hour for our country" and declared a national day of mourning for "one of our greatest sons".
Sobers played for the West Indies for more than 20 years, between 1954 and 1974. He earned international respect as one of the greatest cricket players of all time for his performance as a talented batter, skilled bowler and tenacious fielder.
He was born on 28 July 1936 in Bridgetown, capital of Barbados, the son of Shamont and Thelma Sobers. His father, a merchant seaman, died in January 1942 when his ship was torpedoed by a German vessel during the Second World War. Cricket offered him a way out; according to Gordon Bell's 1978 biography, Sobers helped his school team win the primary-school cricket inter-school championship three years in a row.
By the time he turned 13, his abilities were drawing national attention. At 16, after playing for the Police first-division team, he was called to Barbados trials for the West Indies tour of India in 1952–1953, joining the squad as the twelfth member.
Sobers made his debut on 31 January 1953, scoring seven runs in his turn at bat as the ninth-place batter and impressing as a bowler. His second appearance was in March 1954 in Jamaica, where his stellar performances earned him selection for the West Indies Test squad at the age of 17.
