Sobers includes Lara in his list of all-time greats

"There is a hell of a difference between good and great cricketers. If I have to name the great cricketers of all time, the list will be limited to very few. And I must add that, if Brian (Lara) continues to play the way he is playing now, he will definitely be there," said Sir Garfield Sobers. He was speaking at a function to have a road - Sir Garry Drive - named after him.

Although he did not specify all the names, Ian Chappell was mentioned. "Great players are those who can stay calm even during the toughest hours. Take the case of Ian Chappell. When he was made captain of the Australian side, Australia was not the best in the world. But under his able leadership, Australia became a champion side. He was truly an indomitable cricketer," said Sobers.

"Every generation has three distinct type of cricketers - good, better and great. But, as I said, there can only be a few who can feature in the all-time great list. In my list, I can include a maximum of three to four cricketers only."

Sobers' standards are high; after all, he was the one who thought that there can never be a good ball to a great batsman. He still believes that a great batsman always uses his bat more than his pads to dominate the bowling. To illustrate his point, Sobers pointed to former England captain Ted Dexter, also present at the ceremony, and said, "He was a batsman of that class. I've always seen him to prefer to use his bat to counter quality spin bowling."

Sir Everton Weeks and Sir Clyde Walcott were also at the function, prompting Sobers to recall, "I still remember that Sir Everton presented me with a bat when I was not a regular with the Barbados team. I had the opportunity to bowl against the three Ws, and each of them inspired me to play well. That was really boosting."

A documentary titled "Down Memory Lane," directed by elder brother George Sobers, was screened at the occasion. Sobers' younger brother, Gerald, was present, and the great all-rounder maintained that Gerald didn't translate his potential into success. "He should have played more in the international arena. We were called the 'Chinese Brothers.' At 15, we were playing against each other in a match when I played for the Country XI and he was in the City XI. I bowled four-five deliveries at him. Later, our friends were complaining that I should have bowled at least one half-volley to him, which I didn't."

Sobers was naturally overjoyed, but at the same time, he acutely felt his mother's absence. "Last year I lost her. It would have surely been great if she was here. But she is in heaven now and cannot be present at a function where her son is felicitated."