Sir Garfield Sobers’ Historic Six Sixes: A Legendary Feat in Cricket
On August 31, 1968, the legendary West Indian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the first player to hit six consecutive sixes in an over. This remarkable feat occurred during a first-class match of the English County Championship between Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan.
With Nottinghamshire at 308 for 5, Sobers strode to the crease and quickly accelerated his innings. As Malcolm Nash, a medium-pace bowler, was surprisingly asked to bowl spin, Sobers seized the opportunity to unleash his power.
Nash’s first delivery was dispatched over long-on for six. The second soared over mid-wicket, the third over long-off, and the fourth over mid-on. The fifth ball was a towering hit that cleared the long-on boundary, but Roger Davis’s attempt to catch it resulted in him falling over the rope with the ball in his hands.
Undeterred, Sobers connected with the sixth ball with such force that it sailed over the pavilion roof. The crowd erupted in thunderous applause as Sobers completed his historic six sixes.
Over the years, only a handful of other players have managed to replicate Sobers’ feat in recognized competitive cricket. Ravi Shastri achieved it in the Ranji Trophy in 1985, Herschelle Gibbs in the ODI World Cup in 2007, Yuvraj Singh in the T20 World Cup in 2007, and Ross Whiteley in the T20 Blast.
Sobers’ six sixes remain a testament to his exceptional batting prowess and the enduring legacy of his cricketing brilliance. The feat continues to inspire generations of cricketers and stands as a reminder of the extraordinary heights that can be achieved in the sport.
