@Joll

Bradman's statistics were staggering but Gary was morally outstanding with both bat and ball which his figures do not do complete justice to.Gary's combined impact with bat and ball would edge Bradmans with the bat who was not at his best on wet pitches or against body-line bowling.Sobers played in an era when cricket was more competitive and at his best in a crisis in the most difficult conditions like versus England at Kingston in 1967-68 or when scoring 254 versus Australia at Melbourne.His overall cricketing impact in a single series edged Bradman's in 1970 in England when playing for Rest of the world or in the 1966 series in England.In his best era with the ball Gary was an outstanding bowler.In all types of conditions Sobers to me edged the Don as a cricketer.

I'm sorry, but if I had to choose one cricketer as the greatest of them all, it would be Bradman. Both Ian Chappell and Geoff Boycott state Sobers was the greatest batsman they ever saw, yet Bradman averaged 73% more with the bat than Sobers. 73%!!! This more than off-sets Sobers abilities as a bowler. Bradman never failed in a test series. His lowest batting average in a test series was 56, against Bodyline bowling. That is almost the equal of Sobers' test batting average. It is a well known adage bowlers win matches. Bradman was the exception. He won matches because of the sheer number of his runs, and the speed at which he scored. Plus Bradman was a more astute captain than Sobers.

Gary was like a creature from another planet and the equivalent of Don Bradman to all-rounders.It is sad that the modern generation clubs Kallis or Imran Khan in the same bracket.Considering his prowess as a captain Imran was probably the closest to Gary as a cricketer amongst all-rounders.

Gary is one of the greatest illustrations about cricket is much more to art than to statistsics .Neverthless he displayed supremacy in his ear as no cricketer ever did.

As a pure batsmen he posessed consistency,temperament,innovative ability technique ability to win and save games or any other quality that comprised a perfect batsmen.Facing pressure against great bowling in difficult condition she probably batted better than Viv Richards,Tendulkar or Lara.However what made Sobers spectacular was to be at his best with both bat and ball and turn games in every department simultaneouslly.

Gary posessed the technical skills of an architect,the imagination and artistry of a musical composer or poet and the temperament of a military commander.His cricket reminded you of a statue being sculpted to perfection but with a magic touch.He made the presence of an emperor in full command on the cricket field.Words could not describe Sober's aestheticism .Although Jacques Kallis's figures were more staggering he did not make half the impact of Sobers on games as a complete cricketer.Consistently no cricketer won more matches than Gary whose closest rival in terms of flair was Ian Botham at his peak who in the 1980 jubilee test and 1981 Ashes looked like Sobers incarnated.Consistently as match-winners, Imran Khan and Keith Milller were closest to Sobers if you consider they were fast -bowling all-rounders.,who are generally more effective than batting all-rounders.

Sobers could adapt to any condition sin any situation more than Bradman or Kallis.

Gary Sobers is the greatest cricketer that ever lived as though God sent him to play cricket.He was a three-in-one cricketer combined into one and whether batting,bowling or fielding took cricketing artistry or aesthetics to it's ultimate zenith .No cricketer ever could turn a game in such a colossal manner like Gary who made the impact of a thunderstorm on a cricket field.His herculean performance for rest of the World in 1970 when he scored 583 runs and took 21 wickets surpassed even W.G.Grace or Bradman at their best or even Botham or Imran later.He was one of the most versatile bowlers of all who bowled fast,medium-pace,spin and chinaman like noone ever and as a batsman posessed every component for a perfect batsmen .Even figures don't do justice to Sobers who was more valuable to a side than Bradman and as a batsman alone arguably was 2nd only to the Don and the best of all left-handers.Only weakness was that he was not at his best as a captain.

Truly, the best of the best.

landl47, that RoW game at Lord's was my first live experience of international cricket: privileged to watch a great innings by Sobers (I went second day, so missed the bowling performance). The RoW team contained (I think) the two best left hand batsmen ever (Sobers and Graeme Pollock), though Brian Lara might disagree! Rob Moody (to whom we all owe a debt) has put up some footage of them batting together at the Oval on that tour. Martin: good call. Get well soon.

Thanks Martin. Certainly Gary Sobers was one of the greatest cricketers of any era. One of the amazing things to me about Sobers is that he had more talent than he ever delivered on the field of play. I know that may sound like an oxymoron but Sobers often played by instinct, exuberance and sheer joy of the game. He often did just enough on the field of play without truly extending himself. As captain of WI he often batted at no 6 and opted out of bowling as much as he could, thereby reducing his impact on the game. If he had honed his talents and focused more on the game, imagine the impact.!! Truly the greatest natural athlete of cricket ever.

Undoubtedly the greatest cricketer ever. What an amazing talent!!! One of the freaks of history. A good comparison can be Roger Federer in tennis. Just incredible talents that come once in two or three centuries!!!

I was lucky enough to see two of Sobers' most celebrated innings- his 163* against England to save the game for the West Indies at Lord's in 1966 and his 183 for the Rest of the World at Lord's in 1970 (he also took 6-21 in the first England innings). I saw him on a number of occasions, in 1963 for the WI and after he joined Notts. in 1968 when England admitted overseas players to the county championship. He was both the best batsman and the best allrounder I've seen and if he'd been just a bowler he might have been the best bowler, too, able to bowl fast-medium swing, finger-spin and wrist-spin. He was also a fine fielder, as graceful as a cat and able to field anywhere, though he specialized in one of the most difficult positions, leg-slip.

The closest comparison to him as a batsman is Sangakkara, but even the great Sanga doesn't have Sobers' power and doesn't play as late- Sobers saw the ball and then decided where to hit it.

My favourite cricketer, too. Good choice, Martin.