A batting average of 57.78, aggregate 8,032 runs, 235 wickets gathered bowling fast alongside variations of spin, and unbelievable catches close to the bat, tell the story of Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers as all-round cricketer, par excellence.

Let’s appreciate, however, that his contribution to the Caribbean psyche in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s was far greater than could be had from mere cricket statistics.

At a time when down-pressed, black Caribbean people were assertively anointing their own heroes, Sir Garfield — who died last Friday in his native Barbados at age 89 — fit the bill in the mind’s eye as a black Moses of sorts.

To the region he was as iconic as American boxer Muhammed Ali and the legendary Brazilian footballer Pele.

His unbeaten 365 against Pakistan at Sabina Park, Kingston, in February 1958, effectively established him among cricket’s greatest at just 21.

That world record remained for decades until surpassed twice by Trinidadian Brian Lara.

Jamaicans had actually taken note years earlier when the Barbadian was just 17: On Test debut at Sabina against England in early 1954 as a left-arm orthodox spinner, the youngster took two wickets, scored 14 not out and 26 batting at number nine in the order.

A year later, also at Sabina, the now-18-year-old stroked an unbeaten 35 and 64 in a losing cause against the mighty Australians including the fearsome pace duo of Messrs Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller.

Round about then a trend took life with some Jamaican parents naming their newborn son Garfield.

The Barbadian — knighted decades later by the titular head of the British Empire, Queen Elizabeth ll — was now a star.

His homeland later designated him a national hero, worthy of being referred to as Right Excellent.

Ties to Jamaica deepened when the young Barbadian’s close friend, talented all-rounder Mr OG “Collie” Smith died in a 1958 car crash in England. Sir Garfield, who escaped with superficial injuries, was driving.

By the 1960s, he had expanded his bowling repertoire to include back-of-the-hand wrist spin and, crucially, pace and swing.

But batting was the left hander’s truest calling, often saving his very best for when his team was in serious trouble.

He enjoyed Sabina Park and, surely, no innings there was more valuable than a match-saving, unbeaten 113 against England on a badly cracked pitch in February 1968 after a first-ball, first-innings dismissal.

Just under six feet tall, loose-limbed, and nonchalantly elegant, Sir Garfield was predominantly a back-foot player with a high back lift and powerful wrists, equally good against pace and spin.

His walk to the wicket, shoulders forward, top shirt buttons undone, collar up, captured youthful imagination even before he had faced a ball.

Godlike though he was, Sir Garfield made mistakes. None was worse than his 1970 visit to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) then under the white supremacist, illegitimate Government of Mr Ian Smith.

Potential catastrophe was averted when Sir Garfield — still West Indies captain, a job he had inherited from legendary countryman Sir Frank Worrell — issued a contrite statement of regret.

Such was his impact on Caribbean life that even such appalling political naivete was eventually forgiven.

In her tribute following Sir Garfield’s death, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley appropriately borrows from the inimitable social commentator Mighty Sparrow: “Who’s the greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars? Anyone can tell you, it’s the great Sir Garfield Sobers…”

For cricket globally and Caribbean people everywhere, Sir Garfield’s legacy stands timeless and immovable.