LONDON, CMC – West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers has paid tribute to Malcolm Nash, a former Glamorgan bowler he once famously hit for six sixes in an over, saying they remained good friends despite the battering.
All-rounder Nash, a left-arm bowler who played for Glamorgan, died yesterday at age 74.
He received the punishment from Sobers, then with Nottinghamshire, in a county match at Swansea in 1968.
It was an iconic moment in world sport because it was the first time a bowler had been hit for 36 in an over in first-class cricket.
Paying tribute to Nash, Sobers, 83, said: “He was a good friend of mine and we always kept that friendship. He was a nice man.
“We played against each other and I was fortunate to hit six sixes against him, but things never changed. As far as we were concerned, we were always friends in spite of what happened on the cricket field.”
Sobers said Nash had kept his sense of humour despite being hit for six sixes.
“When we were asked to go up to be interviewed afterwards, I looked back over my shoulder and saw him smiling,” said Sobers.
“I said, ‘Mally, what are you smiling at?’ And he said, ‘I want you to know you could not have achieved this without me’!”
Sobers said he recalled Nash driving from Wales to London last year when he was there.
“He (Nash) was writing his new book and he asked him me to look at his book and sign it. I am very shocked and it is sad to hear (of his passing).”
Nash took 993 first-class wickets between 1966 and 1983 and was Glamorgan’s leading wicket-taker when they won the County Championship in 1969.
