6,6,6,6,6,6 - For The First Time In Red Ball Cricket

Sir Garfield Sobers batting [X]Sir Garfield Sobers batting [X]

As an Indian cricket fan, one will always remember the six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 T20 World Cup against England. If we look back at the cricketing history, it is not the only time this has happened. Before Yuvraj Singh, Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa had done it in an ODI against the Netherlands. Well if go further down the line, we will find that former Indian international and Men's team coach, Ravi Shastri has also done it in a first class game.

The first player to hit six sixes in an over for the first time in Cricket history

But, who was the first cricketer ever to hit six sixes in an over? Well, the answer is the great West Indian all-rounder - Sir Garfield Sobers. The year was 1968, and the Sobers was playing in a County Championship game between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire in Swansea.

31st August might have stayed as one big nightmares for Malcolm Nash. Generally a medium-pace bowler, Nash was looking to experiment with his left-arm spin bowling. Sir Garfield was looking for some quick runs and got hooked into Nash's bowling. Sobers did something which was probably unthinkable at the time in the game. 

Sobers slammed six sixes off Nash and notably, he was caught of the fifth ball of the over, but the fielder Roger Davis lost his balance and went over the ropes. Things could not have gotten more dramatic for one of the rare firsts in history of the game. 

As far as the game is concerned, Sir Garfield Sobers put in a brilliant and flamboyant batting display in both the innings and set up the win for the Nottinghamshire. It was a convincing win for them as they managed to best Glamargon by a margin of 166 runs.

The legends of Sir Garfield Sobers

Well the legacy of Sir Garfield Sobers did not remain confined to this one rare instance. He established himself as a legend of the game in the international arena for the West Indies. Sobers played 93 Tests for West Indies and scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. He had 26 Centuries to his name along with 30 Half-centuries. His highest test-score was 365*. 

Besides being a mainstay of the West Indian batting, Sobers was more than handy with the ball too. He picked up 235 wickets in the 93 Tests at an average of 34.03. 

His all-round abilities, the impact he had and the way he read cricket made him one of the greatest to ever graced the game.