Sir Gary Sobers’ Historic Six Sixes: Malcolm Nash’s Spin Experiment Became Part of Cricket History
SWANSEA (Wales): On August 31, 1968, at St Helen’s Ground in Swansea, Wales, Sir Garfield “Gary” Sobers, one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, created history by becoming the first batsman to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket. Fifty-eight years after that unforgettable feat, the legendary cricketer has bid farewell to the world.
Sir Gary Sobers passed away at his residence in Barbados on Friday, July 17, at the age of 89, marking the end of a glorious era in Caribbean cricket. He represented the West Indies in 93 Test matches and one One-Day International between 1954 and 1974. He played his final Test in 1974 at the age of 38.
By 1968, Sobers had already completed 14 years in Test cricket. He had attempted to hit six sixes in an over on several occasions in both international and first-class cricket, but success finally came in Swansea while playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan. In that historic first-class match, he smashed England bowler Malcolm Nash for six consecutive sixes in a single over.
Interestingly, Malcolm Nash was primarily a left-arm medium pacer. However, in the match that made cricket history, he decided to experiment with left-arm spin, a move that proved disastrous. The first delivery of the over was a no-ball, after which Sobers launched the next six legal deliveries for sixes. His remarkable world record stood unchallenged for 17 years until Ravi Shastri equalled it in 1985 by hitting six sixes in an over off Baroda left-arm spinner Tilak Raj while playing for Bombay at the Wankhede Stadium.
Six Magical Shots in One Over: Final Six Landed Near a Bus Stop
First Ball: Sobers struck the ball straight down the ground, sending it soaring out of the stadium for the first six of the over.
Second Ball: He followed it up by clearing the long-on boundary with another towering hit to register his second successive six.
Third Ball: Sobers launched the ball high into the enclosure, completing a hat-trick of sixes.
Fourth Ball: Another massive hit sailed over the ropes for the fourth six, after which Sobers smiled while looking towards the wicketkeeper.
Fifth Ball: Glamorgan fielder Roger Davis caught the ball near the boundary, but as he touched the boundary rope while completing the catch, the umpire correctly signalled a six.
Sixth Ball: Sobers finished the over in unforgettable fashion by smashing the ball over deep midwicket. It landed near a nearby bus stop, completing the historic six sixes in an over and creating one of cricket’s most iconic records.