Sir Garfield Sobers, who has died aged 89, was rightly chosen as one of the leading five cricketers of the 20th century - and will be remembered as arguably the best all-rounder in…

Sir Garfield Sobers, who has died aged 89, was rightly chosen as one of the leading five cricketers of the 20th century - and will be remembered as arguably the best all-rounder in the history of the game. A national hero of Barbados, he was a legend in the West Indies on the back of a Test career that spanned 20 years, and was knighted soon after his retirement. But he will also be fondly remembered in England after playing for county side Nottinghamshire - for whom he wrote his name into the record books when he became the first man to hit six sixes in an over in a professional game. Decades before coaches began to insist their players be 'multi-dimensional' cricketers rather than only contributing in one facet of the game, Sobers was the ultimate all-round sportsman. A hard-hitting left-handed middle-order batter, he was capable of bowling in three distinct styles, as well as being an athletic fielder and a fine close catcher. Indeed, he would often take the new ball, bowling left-arm fast-medium - and then return later in the innings having switched to orthodox left-arm spin, or even left-arm wrist-spin. When added to his batting and fielding, he was a captain's dream - effectively five cricketers in one. The statue of Sir Garfield Sobers stands proudly outside Kensington Oval in Bridgetown Garfield St Aubrun Sobers was born in Bridgetown on 28 July 1936, but was only five when his merchant seaman father was killed in World War Two, leaving his mother Thelma to raise half-a-dozen children. Young Garry was born with an extra finger on each hand, which were removed during childhood.