Students at Wisbech Grammar School came face to face with one of the greatest cricketers of all time on Friday.

West Indian cricket giant Sir Garfield Sobers met the boys who are competing in the Sobers Schoolboy Cricket Tournament in Barbados in July.

He gave advice to the youngsters about the conditions they will face in the West Indies and how to adapt to them.

At a lunch with the pupils and cricket staff he talked enthusiastically about his experiences playing for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, South Australia, Barbados and the West Indies.

He clearly inspired the pupils during his stay - they went to their afternoon break after meeting him and started playing impromptu games of cricket.

Director of sport Phil Webb said: “To influence young children who have never seen you play just by talking to them and showing them how you should hold a cricket bat truly is inspiration.

“We are indebted to Sir Garfield for giving up his time to visit the school and pupils of all ages have been inspired by a truly great man.”

Sobers made his West Indies debut aged just 17 in 1954 against England and played 93 tests in an illustrious 20 year career which ended in 1974 against the same opposition.

The swash-buckling left handed batsman scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and hit 26 centuries, including a then world record 365 against Pakistan in 1958.

He also took 235 wickets and snaffled many great catches, earning him the title of the greatest all rounder to have played the game.

If that was not enough Sobers, playing for Nottinghamshire, famously hit six consecutive sixes hit off an over from the unfortunate Glamorgan bowler Malcolm Nash in 1968.