West Indies legend Holding: Sobers 'stood out' among the greats

Published: July 19, 2026 — 03:38 am IST | Paris, France

Source: AFP

The late Garry Sobers "stood out" even among cricket's greats but remained humble despite his standing in the game, former West Indies bowler Michael Holding told AFP on Friday (July 18, 2026).

The Barbados-born Sobers, who died at the age of 89, featured in 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, amassing 8,032 runs and taking 235 wickets.

Holding, 72, never played with Sobers but said he was struck by the way he was revered in the game.

"Among the great cricketers he stood out," the former paceman told AFP by phone from his Cayman Islands home.

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"Look at his numbers, and they are impressive but he too was impressive. I know other cricketers whose numbers are good but who I would not be impressed by."

Holding, who was part of a fearsome West Indies pace attack in the 1970s and 1980s, recalled the high praise Sobers received from former Australian captain Ian Chappell:

"People who played against him said he was number one.

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"Ian Chappell, whom I saw on a regular basis when we worked for Channel 9 in Australia, said 'Mikey do not worry about the question, Is Garry Sobers the best all-rounder? He was more than that — he was the best cricketer that ever lived'.

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"Those are big words coming from someone who was a former Australian captain and lived in Australia, the country that Don Bradman came from."

Holding, who took 249 wickets in 60 Tests, also spoke warmly of Sobers' character:

"It was always good to be around Sir Garry. One thing I noticed is he never spoke about himself. There are so many cricketers who do and start with 'In my time'.

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"He did not like to talk about the game a lot unless he was asked a question. He was a very humble man."

Career Highlights

• Test matches: 93 (1954–1974)
• Runs: 8,032 (average 57.78)
• Wickets: 235 (average 34.03)
• Captaincy: 39 Tests (1965–1972) — 9 wins, 10 losses

Extraordinary Feats

• 1958: Broke Len Hutton's record for the highest individual Test score, making 365 not out against Pakistan — a record that stood for 36 years.
• First-class cricket: Became the first player to hit six sixes in an over while playing for English county Nottinghamshire.

A Lasting Inspiration

Holding said that while Sobers may have inspired young West Indians to take up the game, they would have been foolish to imagine they could emulate him.

"Nobody could do what he did. If you did try, you would fall flat on your face.

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"You could look up at him on the pedestal and be proud he is from the Caribbean."

West Indies cricket legend Garfield Sobers, also known as Garry Sobers, died in Barbados on Friday, July 17, 2026.