The 25 boys, residents of the foundation, flocked to Sobers like a brood of chicks flocking to their mother, to know how they measure up in the estimation of the game's greatest all rounder.

What's wrong with my batting sir, a boy asked him. And Sobers' who pointed out his ward's shortcomings but never short of praise when he spotted a good delivery or a good shot, full of wit and humour shot back ``everything''. He then went on to correct his faults.

``Sir, I came close to breaking your record of scoring a six off every ball in an over,'' said state wicket-keeper Reuben Paul. And Sobers retorted, ``I am glad you didn't break it", in jest and went on to correct a few faults in Reuben Paul's batting technique.

``I would like a spinnerto be aggressive instead of trotting upto the wicket and turning his arm over,'' was Sobers general advise to the young spinners.