Lloyd pays tribute to 'greatest' Sobers at funeral
Former teammate Sir Clive Lloyd called legendary West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers the greatest all-rounder the world has ever known at his state funeral in Barbados.
Sir Clive Lloyd paid tribute to his former teammate Sir Garfield Sobers at the latter's state funeral in Barbados, describing him as "the greatest all-round cricketer the world has ever known". Sobers died at the age of 89 on 17 July.
Speaking at the service at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Lloyd said Sobers was "a man who lived in the hearts and minds of Caribbean people and who became a source of inspiration to millions throughout the world". Sobers played 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs and taking 235 wickets.
Other West Indies legends including Brian Lara and Desmond Haynes also spoke at the service, which was attended by Barbados President Jeffrey Bostic, Prime Minister Mia Mottley and pop star Rihanna. The current West Indies Test side, fresh from a 90-run victory over Pakistan in Trinidad, were also present, including Barbadian captain Roston Chase and vice-captain Jomel Warrican.
"Sir Garfield Sobers was not merely the outstanding cricketer of his generation," Lloyd added. "He brought to the beautiful game a rare combination of brilliance, imagination, courage and joy."
Sobers' coffin, draped in the Barbadian flag, was transported from the Parliament Buildings on a gun carriage in a procession through Bridgetown. At the stadium, it passed through a guard of honour of raised cricket bats.
Lara said of his mentor: "This is not a sad moment. This is a moment for us to celebrate... We celebrate the remarkable life of the greatest all-round cricketer."
Sobers scored 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, a record that stood for 36 years. He was named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the 20th century and, in 1968, became the first player to hit a six off every ball of an over in first-class cricket.
Mottley described him as "a man who if he had not achieved any of those great feats on the cricket field would have been immortalised by his community as a good man and a great man".
A message from King Charles read by Reverend Canon Guy Hewitt said: "History is distinguished with sporting champions whose records have rightly commanded respect across generations. There have been far fewer however whose name alone brings a smile to people's faces... Sir Garfield Sobers belongs very firmly in the latter category."
Sobers' body lay in state at the parliament on Monday and at Kensington Oval on Tuesday. He will be buried at Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens in the south of Barbados.
