The man once hailed as the greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars, Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, died on Friday at the age of 89, and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre has added his voice to the many offering condolences across the Caribbean and beyond.
On behalf of the Government and people of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Pierre saluted the Barbados national hero and former West Indies captain, asserting that Sir Garfield’s death was “a profound loss to Barbados, West Indies cricket and the entire Caribbean.”
Pierre noted some of the extraordinary feats that cemented the man from Bay Land, St Michael, as one of the lasting icons of international cricket.
“Among his most celebrated achievements was his unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958,” noted a release from the Office of the Prime Minister. “The innings established a new record for the highest individual score in Test cricket and remained unsurpassed for 36 years.
“In 1968, while playing for Nottinghamshire, he became the first cricketer to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket.”
Sir Garfield broke ground as the first international player equally capable in the field, with bat, or with ball, able to bowl fast or turn the ball. But the prime minister went on to note that Sir Garfield’s importance went beyond the boundary.
“Sir Garfield belonged to a generation of West Indian cricketers whose success gave confidence to Caribbean people during an important period in the region’s development,” said Pierre.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Pierre extends heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Sir Garfield Sobers, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, the Government and people of Barbados, Cricket West Indies, and the international cricketing fraternity.”
Pierre is also the chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which also praised the life of “a son of the Caribbean.” Sir Garfield was conferred with CARICOM’s highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC), in 1998.
