Sir Gary gets Order of Australia

BRIDGETOWN: Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as cricket’s greatest ever allrounder, has been given Australia’s highest national honour. Sir Garfield, who lived for several years in Australia, was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his service to cricket and the community through support for charitable organisations.

“I enjoy the Australian people and it is an honour that I will always remember among all the others that I have received over my lifetime so far,” the 67-year old Sir Garfield said.  Australia’s High Commissioner in Barbados, Fred Peppinck, presented Sir Garfield Sobers with his badge of honour at the official residence of the High Commission, Molyneux House, in St James on the Barbados West Coast on Thursday evening. In a 20-year Test career, Sir Garfield played 93 matches, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. He also captured 235 wickets with his ability to bowl both spin and medium pace. He was knighted in 1975, while Wisden, the bible of cricket, made him “Cricketer of the Year” in 1964 and one of the five cricketers of the 20th century.