Worrell helped to save 'battle' between Sobers and Kanhai

By A. C. de Silva

CRICKET: Who was the greater West Indian batsman - Garfield Sobers or Rohan Kanhai?

Rohan Babulal Kanhai - a batting genius and a brilliant stroke maker.	Sir Garfield Sobers - a three-in-one cricketer - batsman, bowler and fielder.

This was the question that all West Indian fans were asking and it came forward 48 years ago around 1961 when the Windies toured Australia. The West Indians were themselves divided and so were the Australian cricketers. The famous cricketer of yesteryear Jack Fingleton had discussions with some of the Australians on board a ship bound for England. They were divided on the issue - some said Sobers and some preferred Kanhai.

A champion might be on his mettle one day, he might be out of sorts and out of form on another. With Sobers and Kanhai, many followers in Sydney and Brisbane would go for Sobers as a far more distinguished batsman than Kanhai. Then in Melbourne and Adelaide, Kanhai would get the nod.

Whereas Sobers hit two beautiful centuries in Brisbane and Sidney, Kanhai did nothing outstanding. The position was reversed in Melbourne and Adelaide. Kanhai hit his grand 252 against Victoria in Melbourne (Sobers did not play in that match) and Kanhai hit centuries in both innings of the Adelaide Test. Adelaide never saw Sobers in full flight.

Sri Lanka has been fortunate in having the opportunity of seeing these two star-class batsmen in action here. Both players came together in the West Indies team in 1966-7 led by Sobers.

Kanhai was a brilliant stroke maker with an impeccable defence he scored 6,227 runs (Avg 47.53) from 79 Tests between 1957 and 1974 ending his Test career the way he had begun by keeping wickets, when Derryck Murray injured himself and he had to substitute behind the stumps. Of his 15 Test centuries the highest was 256 vs India (Calcutta) 1958-9. He also held 50 catches and led West Indies during terrible times in the early 1970's when they went 20 Tests without a single win.

Rohan Babulal Kanhai of Guyana and Trinidad, born in Guyana on December 26, 1935, made his first-class debut for Guyana in 1954-5, for Western Australia 1961-2, Warwickshire 1968, Tasmania 1969-70 and accumulated 28,639 runs (Avg. 49.29) in a first-class career spanning from 1955-77 hitting 83 centuries. He also took 18 wickets and had 322 dismissals (315 ct, 7 st.).

He also played 10 seasons for English county Warwickshire, sharing in a world record second wicket stand of 465 with John Jameson versus gloucestershire (Edgbaston) 1974 (Kanhai's contribution 213 not out) and also another massive stand of 402 with Billy Ibadullah versus Nottinghanshire (Trent Bridge) 1968 (Kanhai 253).

A proud record

In the estimation of his own team, Sobers would clearly have been the West Indies number one batsman when the team arrived in Australia for the 1961 tour. He was the holder of the World's record Test score - 365 not out against Pakistan, beating by one run Len Hutton's previous best, which was made against sterner Test material and a more exacting Test setting against Australia at the Oval in 1938 - at the start of that tour, Sobers had made nine Test centuries.

He shared them against Pakistan, India and England and thus in figures alone. Sobers stood higher among his fellows then than Kanhai. But Kanhai had other ideas. He was a confident vivacious young chap who seemed to be anscious to prove himself on that tour that he was superior to Sobers.

A 'Culprit'

This rivalry probably more on the part of Kanhai than Sobers, might have been a good thing in that it pressed both men to excel themselves but personal rivalries in a team are, never good for a side and it didn't help matters that Kanhai, too impulsive in his calling and judgement of a run, should have been the culprit in several run outs.

There is an inside story that comes out. About midway through the tour in Australia, Sobers fell a little by the wayside and the pro-Kanhai element became strong in the camp.

Plain talk

West Indies captain Frank Worrell was not slow to realise what this rivalry could do to his team. In Tasmania he called for a special team meeting and Worrell spoke straight and to the point. he spared neither sentiment nor feelings. The West Indies team, he made clear, was in Australia to make a reputation for the country, not for any individuals. He quashed in no uncertain manner this riggling controversy of whether Sobers or Kanhai was the greater batsman.

Kanhai is six months older than Sobers. Kanhai was spotted first by Clyde Walcott but Sobers made his Test debut three years before his countryman. However Kanhai never made runs unless he made them in an attractive manner.

He battled like a power house. The touch of a switch and there was light and power in his directions. He batted attractively driving freely, and he played to leg with such power that he sometimes fell flat on his back in the execution of the sweep.

Sobers - top allrounder

Sir Garfield Sobers who is still among the living, was born on July 28 in 1936. He was a top allrounder - batsman, bowler and fielder. He made his Test debut for West Indies against England at Kingston between March 30 and April 3 in 1954 and his last Test too was against England at Port of Spain.

He was knighted for his services for cricket in 1975.

He also figured in Wisden as one of five cricketers of the country in 2000.

Sobers was very much involved with Sri Lanka cricket and worked well with the late Gamini Dissanayake - then president of the Board of Control for cricket.

Sobers played 93 Tests scored 8.023 runs at an average of 57.38 with 26 centuries, took 235 wickets and held 110 catches.

His assessment of Sri Lanka Cricket and cricketers is relevant. He said that Sri Lanka has enormous cricket talent and there seems to be no limit to its future development - that assessment of Sobers has come right. Sri Lanka got Test status in 1981 and Sri Lanka has also won the World Cup Tournament.

Sobers coached Sri Lanka in 1982 to 1983.