Sportskeeda's All-Time Test XI: From the realms of immortality

12^th Man – Sir Garry Sobers (West Indies)

Perhaps, Sobers was the most gifted cricketer ever

With only 11 places up for grabs, the decision to leave out Sir Garry Sobers was incredibly tough and could be ascribed to the balance of the side. A rare multi-dimensional cricketer, the left-hander could do almost anything and everything on the field. Whether it was flaying bowling attacks to all parts of the stadium or taking the new-ball or beating batsmen with drift and turn, he epitomized the term ‘all-rounder‘.

As a close-in fielder too, he could predict his radar and swoop in on half-chances instinctively. His genius arose from an unambiguous mindset of which the fiery Fred Trueman exclaimed, “He has a great cricketing brain and his thought processes are lightning quick.” A statesman who believed that the game stood above victory and defeat, Sobers was an entertainer par excellence.

Did You Know – Sobers was born with six fingers in both hands. At 10, one of those extra digits was removed with a tug and cat glut while the other finger got chopped off with a razor-sharp knife when he was 14.

Statistics: 8032 runs from 93 matches at an average of 57.78 with 26 centuries and 30 fifties & 235 wickets at an average of 34.03 with six five-wicket hauls

Full Team: Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Sir Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Viv Richards, Adam Gilchrist (wk & vc), Imran Khan (c), Shane Warne, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Muttiah Muralitharan; 12^th man – Sir Garry Sobers