The late Ashley Mallett who took 132 Tests wickets in 38 Tests for Australia and authored over 25 books including biographies of Clarrie Grimmett, Doug Walters, Jeff Thomson and Ian Chappell on the incredible Sir Garfield Sobers (from 2012):
When I first saw film of Sobers carving up a good Australian attack in the tied Test match at the Gabba in 1960-61, I couldn't think of a better batsman I had seen after Harvey. Undoubtedly the greatest all-round cricketer to draw breath, his batting alone places him in exalted company. His shot selection was terrific, and he played all the strokes imaginable, plus a few of his own.
The way he played Richie Benaud's leg spin had me confused, because seeming half volleys from Benaud were either blasted to the cover boundary or blocked. I first thought Sobers was "resting" between hitting boundaries, but no, it had to do with how the ball arrived. He defended a hard-spun ball just above the eyes and smashed to the fence a delivery that was a little flatter, a ball with a trajectory below eye level.
In 1971-72, Sobers led a Rest of the World Xl Down Under, and the 254 he hit against Australia at the MCG prompted Bradman to declare that Sobers' knock was the best innings he had seen from anyone in Australia.
I was among the Australians who attended a rum punch night put on by Garry Sobers' West Indian team on the eve of the Adelaide Test in 1968-69. .
Sobers surprised everyone by telling the gathering that he would only be partaking in a few drinks that night, "... because tomorrow I am going to score 100". And he did. As Australia's 12th man I could sit back and watch.
I played a few matches against Sobers but bowled just two balls to him. Playing for West Indies against South Australia in, he caressed a ball from me through the covers for two runs; then in the Test match at the Gabba I bowled one ball to him, which he swept for one.
Sadly, he got out up the other end on both occasions, and I didn't get the chance to bowl to him again. I did get an idea of how Clarrie Grimmett felt when he bowled just the one over to Victor Trumper at the Basin Reserve when playing for Wellington against the visiting Australians.