Just like any other West Indies cricket fan, July 17, 2026 will now be eternally etched in my memory as one of the saddest days ever experienced. As the entire cricketing world now knows, it was the day “The Greatest Cricketer On Earth Or Mars” entered Heaven’s Grand Pavilion.
Barbados’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Mia Mottley spoke for everyone in her acknowledgement of Sir Gary’s passing. Noting with her typical outstanding eloquence that has long since made her by far the most beloved of all current Caribbean leaders: “Some lives so deeply woven into the story of a people that we begin to think they will always be there. Sir Gary was one of those lives!”
Having first seen the news of Sir Gary’s passing on a Facebook post, I quickly called Reds Perriera for confirmation. My first sorrow-filled words to him when he came on the line were “Please, please tell me it isn’t true!”
Reds could not, of course, provide any such reassurance. So instead we spent the time sharing our respective sorrow-tinged thoughts on the undeniable impression Sir Gary had left on both of our lives. In full appreciation, as we both were, as to how blessed we are to be among those who were so honored and privileged as to have known him personally.
“Bailey 23, caught McWatt bowled Sobers, was Reds’ parting comment as we ended the call.
Red’s “Bailey caught McWatt bowled Sobers” was of course, in reference to the 1954 Sabina Park, West Indies versus England 5th Test occurrence of Sir Gary’s very first Test cricket. Captured as it was in his debut Test appearance as a 17-year-old leg-spinner.
Sir Gary would eventually go on to capture a further 234 Test wickets. But for my father Clifford Aubrey McWatt, none of those could ever have been as personally meaningful. So proud he always was of having been a teammate of Sir Gary in that Sabina Park 1954 Fifth Test. And again a year later at Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval in the second Test of the West Indies – Australia 1955 Series.
As a direct reflection of my father’s profound admiration and adulation of Sir Gary, I grew up hearing him say “There’s God, Gary Sobers and Frank Sinatra!” Followed by whoever else anyone cared to identify!
Indeed, I have always held the belief that my very own existence is in fact directly linked to Sir Gary. As much as I had once very publicly recounted in his very presence. Much to his initial bewilderment and subsequent bemusement. Both reactions were equally shared as they were by all the luminaries present, including my father as well as Sir Gary’s former West Indies teammates, Robert Christiani and Tom Dewdney, as well as the former Test opening batsman Leslie Wight.
The occasion was a 1994 Gala which, as the then Ontario Cricket Association Executive Director, I was hosting in honour of Sir Gary. Under Barbados Tourism’s auspices, he had come to Canada to conduct some cricket coaching clinics!
As host, I took it upon myself to introduce Sir Gary as the esteemed Guest of Honor. I naturally started my introduction by reminding everyone present of the West Indies teammates and first Test wicket association between my Dad and Sir Gary. I then went to state, however, my aforementioned claim that, unknown to most, including Sir Gary himself, my very existence was in fact directly linked to him.
By way of logical support, I reminded the audience that Sir Gary’s world record-breaking 365, as Test cricket’s then highest ever individual score, was made on March 5, 1958. As a result, there had been joyous “celebrations” throughout the Caribbean, including those by his former teammates like my father.
Informing the audience of my November 5, 1958 birth, I suggested that the associated calculations would verify my birthdate as being exactly nine months to the day after Sir Gary’s world record-breaking achievement!
Sir Gary’s thank-you acknowledgement of my introduction was to say: “Youngmac, I have been introduced countless times all over the world on occasions like this, but never before in such a unique manner!”
My first memory of witnessing Sir Gary’s outstanding brilliance first hand wasn’t until 1967. As a nine-year-old, I was in attendance at the Bourda-hosted British Guiana (BG) versus Barbados Regional Shell Shield Match. I was with my mother in the upper level of the GCC Flagstaff Stand. As an avid cricket fan, student of the game and aspiring player, I was by then fully aware of the mind-blogging feats with bat, ball and even in the field that Sobers had accomplished during the preceding 1966 Test Series in England against our then still colonial masters.
Sobers came to the crease just after lunch on the third day, as Barbados replied to BG’s posted mammoth first innings total of 641/7 declared, which had included centuries by Roy Fredericks (127), Rohan Kanhai (144 rh) and Basil Butcher 163*. Sobers started ultra-cautiously, prompting me to ask my mother, “why is the great man batting so slowly?”
“Don’t worry, just wait until after tea,” she responded. Prophetic advice that turned out to be as Sobers crafted a belligerent 165 not out by the day’s close of play. He scored well over 100 runs in the session with some of the most brilliant batting a hero-worshipping nine-year-old such as myself could ever have wished to see!
A year later, Sobers would be back at Bourda, featuring as captain in that iconic partnership with Rohan Kanhai during which they both surpassed 150. Smarting from the regional-wide criticism he’d received for his infamous 92-2 declaration, which had allowed England a 1-0 series-leading victory in the previous Queen’s Park Oval Test, Sobers single-handedly attempted to rectify matters. Batting and bowling like a man possessed, he scored 152 in the first innings and 95 not out in the second. While taking three-fers in both of England’s innings with his bowling, had it not been for some highly dubious umpiring decisions in favor of England’s desperate draw-seeking batsmen, West Indies might well have deservedly won the Test.
As a close friend and West Indies teammate of my former father-in-law Cammie Smith, Sir Gary was one of the many Barbados cricket luminaries who attended my 1989 locally hosted wedding to Cammie’s youngest daughter Tracey. During which my lifelong friend Ritchie Seymour gave what was in Stephen Camacho’s expressed opinion, one of the funniest Best Man speeches ever heard. Ritchie had the captured audience in stitches with his recounting my school cricketer days, characterized as they were by my adoration of Sir Gary.
“With his cricket shirt collar invariably turned up, Tony dressed like Sir Gary, and even imitated the great man’s parrot-toed walk to the crease. The only problem was that despite his very best efforts, Tony could never bat, bowl or field in any way close to Sir Gary!”
In fulfilment of his Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) Ambassador duties, Sir Gary occasionally visited Toronto during the early nineties. Whenever he did, his very good friend Gregory Armstrong, who, as the BTA’s Canadian Business Development Manager, I had also developed a close enough working relationship with, would always arrange social get-togethers between the three of us. Delightfully enjoyable those invariably were. Wonderful times spent in Sir Gary’s esteemed company, while sharing his passion for premium alcohol and Chinese Peking Duck!
My fondest personal memory of Sir Gary will now, however, always be that of a relatively brief encounter at an April 1994 house party in Antigua. It was the Saturday night of the West Indies – England fifth Test Match and the party was being hosted by some of Chris Dehring’s Antiguan friends.
Very surprised as I was to see Sir Gary in attendance as well, I quickly approached him with the question that had been on my mind all day long. Which was to ask him whether he thought that Brian Lara, who had finished the day’s play not out on 130, could in fact go on to break his, Sir Gary’s 365 world highest Test score, which had existed for 36 years. Sir Gary’s direct confirmatory response to me was simply “If he wants it badly enough, he can and will!”
Those were among the most welcome words I had ever heard. Mere confirmation I had publicly stated to Dehring and everyone else within earshot of our regular Antigua Tests seating positions. The two rearmost rows of the Double Decker Stand’s lower level.
“If Brian still batting by tea time tomorrow (Sunday) Sobers 365 record gon be in trouble!” To which the overall response was, “Tony ease up on the Cavalier Rum!”
Buoyed by Sir Gary’s tacit confirmation, I was at the ARG very early the next (Sunday) morning. Just after 7:00 am and a good three hours before the scheduled 10:00 start of the day play. The first person I saw upon arrival was Brian himself who then invited me to go have a grilled fish breakfast with him. Over fish I asked him if he was aware of the fact that there was a US $10,000 reward on offer for the first batsman to score a double century in the series, and for which he then only needed another thirty-odd runs.
Brian’s disbelieving, borderline disappointed response to me was “Is that all you are now thinking about?”
Right away Sir Gary’s comment from the previous night came flooding back. I knew then with absolute certainty that the 365 was a done deal. As it turned out, rain fell sufficiently to wash out play for the entire period between lunch and tea. So that by close of play Brian was 320. Still needing another 45 to achieve the record.
Duly accomplished the very next day in the presence of Sir Gary himself, who ventured onto the field to offer his congratulations. A gesture which Mikey Holding in his own public tribute on Sir Gary’s passing, voiced that it was a most fitting example of the great man’s grace and humility!
Grace, humility, kindness and a generosity of spirit that again I was so privileged as to have experienced personally. And which I will always include among my most treasured memories!
Walk Good Sir Gary. Thanks for the Memories. Love, Admiration And Respect Always and Forever!