(Barbados Nation) National hero and cricketing legend Sir Garfield Sobers yesterday described the late English cricket all-rounder and journalist Trevor Bailey as a “wonderful person”.
Bailey, 87, died of apparent smoke inhalation after a fire at his Crowstone Road, Westcliff, Essex, home yesterday morning.
His body was found on the kitchen floor by firemen who managed to rescue his wife Greta from bed.
Sir Garry said Bailey was on his way out of cricket when he first met him and their relationship was mainly off the field.
He said Bailey had written a book on him and through that interaction he had first got to know him. They also interacted when Sir Garry toured England.
“He and I got on very well and I found him a very nice person to talk to,” said Sir Garry.
“I once spoke to him about how West Indian cricketers, especially in Barbados, developed with the use of tennis balls.
“This was something that cricketers in England never really did, and he started to develop tennis ball cricket in England.
“I believe it is now played in various places quite often in England,” Sir Garry said.
