Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
Sunday 17 August 2014, 7.30pm
Cricket fans are in for a treat this summer, when legendary Barbadian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers appears at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne on Sunday 17 August for a night of reminiscences, seldom heard tales and stories from his long career
Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers was born in Barbados in 1936, at just 16 he played in the national team for Barbados against India, and so begun a hugely celebrated career, becoming undoubtedly the greatest cricket player of his era (1952 to 1974).
He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to international cricket. In 1998, Barbados declared him a National Hero by an act of parliament as one of the 10 National Heroes of Barbados, which accords him the honorary prefix “The Right Excellent”.
Many adjectives have been used to describe him; the great Barbadian cricketer, the greatest all rounder, the cricketer’s cricketer. Certainly, there will be no other like him.
He played his first test match in 1954 against England in Kingston, Jamaica getting 4 wickets. He showed promise during a 1957 English Tour, but it was during the 1957-58 tour of Pakistan where he set the highest test score of the time by scoring 365 not out.
Sobers then joined the Lancashire League, playing for Nottinghamshire where he developed an extremely fast bowl. He would then bowl for South Australia setting records completing an unprecedented feat during his first season there; 1000 runs and 50 wickets twice in an Australian season, something that no one else was able to complete even once. South Australia would go on to win the Sheffield Shield.
He went on to captain the West Indies team in 39 Tests between 1965 and 1972. After 20 years of playing cricket, Sobers retired in 1974, he held the record for the most runs in a test career at that time.
Spend an Evening with Cricket Legend Sir Garfield Sobers at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne on Sunday 17 August, 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £20, to book call the box office on 01323 412000 or online www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.
IMAGE CREDIT : www.caterhamschool.co.uk : The 1st XI played an MCC team and Sir Garfield Sobers, one of cricket’s greatest ever all-rounders, came to watch
