I would have enjoyed one-day cricket: Sobers

For the man who began his career as a bowler, achieved a cult status with the bat for his record unbeaten 365, whipped a Glamorgan left-arm bowler for six sixes in an over

For the man who began his career as a bowler, achieved a cult status with the bat for his record unbeaten 365, whipped a Glamorgan left-arm bowler for six sixes in an over, could bowl left-arm medium pace, left-arm orthodox and chinaman and was knighted after his retirement for his services to cricket, the game was richer. It was an honour to have Sir Garfield Sobers on stage.

On Thursday, Sobers, arguably the finest all-rounder of all time, was in Mumbai, inviting all to be present in the West Indies. 8220;It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to revive cricket in the West Indies,8217;8217; he announced.

Unfortunately for the man, who will turn 71 in July, the only one-day match in his career wasn8217;t the most exciting. Sobers failed to score a single run in the game which was played when West Indies were touring England in 1973. The Test match at Leeds had ended in three days and the spare day was used to entertain the crowd in a 60-over-a-side match between the two teams. 8220;I do not count that as one,8217;8217; he now says.

8220;One day cricket would not have made much of a difference to my style of play,8217;8217; he says. 8220;I was always an attacking player, always on the front foot. Whether I was playing for the West Indies, South Australia, Barbados, Nottinghamshire, that was the way I played my cricket. But looking back, I certainly would have enjoyed one-day cricket had I played more of it,8217;8217; he says.

At his age now, he is all the more happy to see the game where it stands today. 8220;Twenty-20 is entertainment too,8217;8217; he says of the newest format.

Looking at how West Indies began to suffer thinning crowds once their cricket dipped to an all-time low in the nineties, Sobers is much aware of what it takes to get them back. 8220;You have to find a way of bringingthem back. Twenty-20 is bringing in money. People who never watched Test cricket, county cricket, are now watching Twenty-20. And that8217;s a good sign,8217;8217; he says.

The man8217;s only point of worry is quite evident. 8220;Fifty overs, Twenty-20 are entertaining. But not quite the way to develop young cricketers at the Test level,8217;8217; he quickly adds.