Cricket legend Sir Gary pops in to say hello
Days after Stirling County’s New Williamfield cricket ground became a first-class international venue, players and officials were stunned to see one of the world’s greatest ever players pay a surprise visit.
The club was hosting an independent schools 2020 competition when West Indian legend Sir Gary Sobers turned up.
Barbadian Sir Gary played for the West Indies from 195274 and was knighted in 1975 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to international cricket.
In 1998 Barbados declared him a national hero.
For more than three decades he held the world record for the highest individual Test score of 365 not out before it was broken by fellow West Indian Brian Lara (375).
In 93 test matches, he scored 8032 runs (av. 57.78), took 235 wickets and held 109 catches.
He was also the first batsman to hit six sixes in one over while playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan at Swansea in 1968.
Sir Gary was at New Williamfield to support Dollar Academy which has a link with Barbados established by the Harry Bell Trust, which helps Dollar Academy pupils to undertake literary research and enables senior pupils from Barbados to spend a year as boarders at the school. The trust was set up Dr John Bell, a GP in Barbados, and his brother Sandy, both sons of Harry Bell, rector of the academy from 1936-60.
County’s chairman Rod Turnbull, who happened to be at the ground helping to move equipment after last week’s Scotland v Afghanistan match, was amazed to see the legend.
He said: “After hosting our first- ever first- class international last week, it was a delight to meet one of the world’s greatest ever allrounders,” said Rod.
“It was a huge thrill for those of us at the club and he was very complimentary about New Williamfield.”