Famous Cricketers No 42 - Gary Sobers

206. WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, Bridgetown, February 29, March 1, 2, 4, 5 (Match drawn) c I.J.Jones b J.A.Snow 68 349 41 10 76 2 G.Boycott lbw 449 P.I.Pocock b b D.J.Brown 19 284/6 207. WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, Port-of-Spain, March 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 (England won by seven wickets) c I.J.Jones b D.J.Brown 48 526/7d 36 8 87 0 414 did not bat - 92/2d 14 0 47 0 215/3 1 208. WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, Georgetown, March 28, 29, 30, April 1, 2, 3 (Match drawn) c M.C.Cowdrey b K.F.Barrington 152 414 37 15 72 3 J.H.Edrich c D.L.Murray 371 M.C.Cowdrey lbw K.F.Barrington c R.B.Kanhai not out 95 264 31 16 53 3 J.H.Edrich c L.R.Gibbs 206/9 J.A.Snow lbw G.A.R.Lock c L.A.King SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Tests 5 9 3 545 152 90.83 2 2 4 Other matches 1 2 1 93 56 46.50 - 1 1 Season 6 11 3 638 152 79.75 2 3 5 Career 208 329 48 16636 365* 59.20 52 66 230 Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i 10m Tests 232.5 72 507 13 3/33 39.00 - - Other matches 20 8 54 0 - - - - Season (6-ball) 252.5 80 561 13 3/33 43.15 - - Career (6-ball) 4850.5 1361 } 16581 597 9/49 27.77 22 - (8-ball) 1362.1 163 1968 This was the year in which the English counties opened their doors to foreign cricketers and Nottinghamshire were fortunate enough to sign Sobers for £5,000 a season, which was then considered the most lucrative contract ever offered to a county professional. He lifted the county into fourth place in the championship after it had endured a number of dismal seasons. His own contribution to the cause was enormous: 1,570 runs (ave 44.85), 83 wickets (ave 22.67), and 25 catches. He also provided the county with inspiring leadership, having replaced Norman Hill as its captain. His batting was invariably stylish and aggressive. He registered the fastest century of the season when he smashed 105 not out in 77 minutes against Kent at Dover in August, and achieved an outstanding world record when he struck 6 sixes in a single over fromMalcolm Nash of Glamorgan at Swansea in the last match of the season. Against Middlesex, at Lord’s in June, he scored a courageous century, despite a leg injury, and compelled the hosts to bat again when they would otherwise have won by an innings. He recorded only 2 centuries in 27 first-class matches but compensated with 13 additional innings in which he reached at least 50. Sobers was also very effective with the ball. He began the season, indeed, with a wonderful spell of swing bowling which yielded 5/25 from 14 searching overs against Middlesex at Trent Bridge. Against Kent in late August he captured 10 wickets in a match for the first (and only) time in his career. It was against this same county that he had achieved his best bowling analysis (9/49) in 1966. On five occasions he claimed at least 5 wickets in an innings, and such was his amazing consistency that he claimed at least 4 wickets on no fewer than 12 occasions. He was especially effective with the new ball and Nottinghamshire seldom therefore encountered lengthy opening partnerships. At the end of the season, Sobers was invited to participate in the Scarborough Festival. He led a very powerful Rest of the World XI against an England XI but his team was comprehensively beaten. The captain himself contributed little and the international stars fared ill against the bowling of Robin Hobbs, Ray Illingworth and Fred Trueman. Geoffrey Boycott added to their discomfiture by scoring 208 runs for one dismissal. 45