Sport minister Olivia Grange mourns Sir Garfield Sobers as West Indies icon

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sport Minister Olivia Grange has described the death of Barbados national hero and cricket great Sir Garfield Sobers on Friday as the loss of a towering figure for the Caribbean and beyond.

"The Caribbean and the world have lost an absolute titan. Sir Garry was not merely a phenomenal sportsman; he was a unifying symbol of West Indian excellence, pride, and identity. He carried the spirit of our region on his shoulders and showed the world the heights that Caribbean genius could reach," Grange said in a statement.

She noted that Jamaica forged a lasting link with the Barbadian star.

"It was right here, on our own soil at Sabina Park in 1958, where a 21-year-old Sobers scored his magnificent 365 not out against Pakistan. That historic knock shattered the world record, stood undefended for 36 years, and forever cemented Sabina Park as the birthplace of his ultimate international stardom," Grange said.

"We will also remember still with awe another of his mind-blowing feats. The first batsman in first-class cricket history to smash six sixes in a single over. We will recall Sir Garfield did this while playing for Nottinghamshire in England in 1968," she added.

Grange cast Sobers as an outstanding batsman, a bowler skilled in several disciplines, and a fielder without equal.

"He played the game with unmatched grace, flair, and a fierce determination that inspired generations of young cricketers across the West Indies and the wider diaspora. Richly deserving, Garfield Sobers was knighted in 1975 for his services to cricket, named one of Barbados' 11 National Heroes, and permanently honoured through the ICC's annual Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy awarded to the world's top cricketer. Sir Garfield Sobers did not just play for the West Indies. He defined us. He showed that small island states could produce the biggest talent," Grange said.