Players will realise that Test cricket is ultimate : Sobers

“I don’t know much about genius. They keep telling me that I am. I don’t know what I have done, how I have become a genius. All I know is whatever I have achieved is through the ability I was probably born with. And ability alone doesn’t work. You have to work hard to make it work. You don’t have to work as much as the other person who does not have the same natural ability,’’ said Sir Garry Sobers, one of the greatest cricketers of all time, during a private function to celebrate the film The Man Who Knew Infinity, a biopic on the celebrated Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Eight months away from turning 80, Sir Garry said with a sharp and clear mind: “I think that is where I have probably capitalised because as a young boy growing up, I used to have many spectators. You think that when I made the world record score of 365, I had spectators? No. When I was 13 and 14, I had a lot more spectators.

“I think geniuses are born. I don’t think they are made. They have to recognise what they have and they have to work hard to achieve whatever they want to achieve. Nothing is given to you on a platter.

“I have known a lot of players I have played with. They had the ability, but did not recognise that they not only had the ability, but they were geniuses. And they thought everything will fall into place. No. You have to work hard. Once you have done that, you will achieve.’’

The Barbadian said it’s very difficult to make an assessment of things that has changed cricket. “Of course, there’s got to be changes. I think some of the changes are for the better. I believe that the players who are playing the game should be able to accept what they think is right and what is wrong.

“Like in the West Indies, it is very difficult to criticise the players who want to play the IPL because most of them come from very humble backgrounds. And, if they find an opportunity where they can better themselves, then you can’t blame them for that.

“I think the changes have been good but the players have to learn to know how to accept and never to forget their countries because Test cricket will always be the utmost and they should always strive to be better at that. Once you are good in that situation, you will be able to produce results. If you work hard, you will be able to perform and you will find that your country will also benefit.

“Players these days are retiring before their time to retire because their whole idea is to go and play in the IPL. I can’t blame them. They pay well and one doesn’t know how long they will be in the game.

“When you see an opportunity where you can help yourself, and then by all means do that. But look at the game in its right perspective. And I believe that in time to come, a lot of players will recognise that Test cricket is still the No. 1 cricket in the world and Twenty20 is entertainment.’’