Gerry Sobers is the brother of Gary Sobers. The presence of G. Sobers among the leading run-getters in the North Staffordshire League last season might well have puzzled the admirers of the great West Indies all-rounder. Many varied and ubiquitous though his talents are, Garfield Sobers was touring the official West Indies team.
The explanation is found in this picture. There is another G. Sobers—Gerry, the 28-year-old brother of Gary Sobers. And now opponents of Norton, in North Staffordshire, are faced with the awesome prospect of seeing a G. Sobers at each end.
Gerry Sobers is a right-handed batsman (hard-hitting, naturally) who for some years, let boyish promises lapse through service in the Merchant Navy. Now he is living in the Manchester area, and he and his brother make a formidable pair.
I saw them in action together when Norton needed 50 in the last 25 minutes against Newcastle, on a pudding of a pitch. Gary Sobers hit two incredible straight sixes off the Newcastle professional, Bartels, a very useful medium-pacer, in one over.
Yet his brother scored a run for a run with him, with some brilliant cutting and wristy flicks to the leg. The winning hit came with five minutes to spare. In the picture above, the brothers are pleased with the news just received that Gary Sobers has been appointed West Indies captain for the series against Australia in the Caribbean next year.
