A CRICKETING legend has been sharing the secrets of his success with pupils at a County Durham school.

Sir Garfield Sobers visited Barnard Castle School and told pupils why he believed West Indian cricket was in the doldrums.

He said that he learned his craft playing in alleyways and on the beaches and that was no longer happening.

Sir Garfield, also known as Sir Garry, said: "We had no pads and played in the road.

"That is how we learnt our skills - you learn to put the bat to the ball and keep your body well out of the way."

"But they are no longer playing in the street and on the beaches. They seem to have lost this art and that is where they are failing. If we don't pick them up in the car then they don't turn up.

"If they don't have pads and a helmet and a rolled wicket they will not play. And that has led to the downfall of West Indian cricket."

Sir Garfield was visiting the school to promote his international school boys competition.

During his career, he scored more than 28,000 runs including six sixes in one over.

He played in 93 tests and scored more than 8,000 runs and once hit 365 not out against Pakistan in 1957.

Sir Garfield, who was recently ranked in the top ten cricketing greats and was knighted in 1975, also signed autographs and answered questions.