West Indies cricket icon Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the sport’s best-ever players, has died.
Sobers’ passing at the age of 89 was confirmed in a statement released by Cricket West Indies on Friday.
Alongside a picture of Sobers in action with the caption ‘legend, icon, hero’, they wrote: “A great innings has come to an end.
“In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers.”
A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers. 🖤🏏 pic.twitter.com/bv2MO1SJgz
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 17, 2026
Barbadian Sobers represented West Indies for two decades between 1954-74, serving as captain for seven years between 1965-72 and making 93 Test appearances, plus one ODI outing.
He scored 8,032 Test runs at an average of 57.78, while also taking 235 wickets.
Sobers’ 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1958 - his maiden Test century - was the highest-ever individual score in cricket, before being surpassed by fellow West Indies great Brian Lara’s 375 against England in Antigua in 1994.
Cricket's greatest-ever all-rounder, and an iconic figure in Nottinghamshire history.
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) July 17, 2026
We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers.https://t.co/iFz4m9jCyy pic.twitter.com/5kb6rfYJZU
He finished his career at Nottinghamshire, where he scored 7,041 First-Class runs and took 281 wickets in a six-year stint at Trent Bridge between 1968-74.
Sobers’ other numerous accolades include becoming the first batter ever to hit six sixes in a single over - achieved against Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash in August 1968.
“Cricket's greatest-ever all-rounder, and an iconic figure in Nottinghamshire history,” Nottinghamshire wrote in tribute to Sobers.
“We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers.”
Sobers was knighted for his services to cricket in 1975 and became a National Hero of Barbados in 1998, also awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community and made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
One of the greatest cricketers to have ever graced the game, Sir Garfield Sobers, has sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and @windiescricket as we say goodbye to an ICC Hall of Famer.https://t.co/IyeYerI0ok
— ICC (@ICC) July 17, 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) wrote: “One of the greatest cricketers to have ever graced the game, Sir Garfield Sobers, has sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and @windiescricket as we say goodbye to an ICC Hall of Famer.”
The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of cricket's greatest-ever all-rounders.
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 17, 2026
His extraordinary achievements, lasting influence on Caribbean cricket and immeasurable contribution to the global game have left an enduring legacy that… pic.twitter.com/5263SNLezn
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said: “The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of cricket's greatest-ever all-rounders.
“His extraordinary achievements, lasting influence on Caribbean cricket and immeasurable contribution to the global game have left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations.
“Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the global cricketing fraternity. May his soul rest in peace.”
It was with huge sadness that news of the death of the great Sir Garfield Sobers reached us here at Lord's today. His stature within the game is unmatched: he set the standard by which every player is measured. Our thoughts are with his family and the West Indies cricket… pic.twitter.com/HGvKZ05K1c
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) July 17, 2026
A tweet from the account of Lord’s Cricket Ground read: “It was with huge sadness that news of the death of the great Sir Garfield Sobers reached us here at Lord's today.
“His stature within the game is unmatched: he set the standard by which every player is measured. Our thoughts are with his family and the West Indies cricket community at this time.”
