Geoffrey Boycott

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Geoffrey Boycott
country = England
fullname = Geoffrey Boycott
nickname = Boycs, Geoff, Fiery, GLY (Greatest Living Yorkshireman), Sir Geoffrey [McKinstry, p. ix-i.]
living = true
dayofbirth = 21
monthofbirth = 10
yearofbirth = 1940
placeofbirth = Fitzwilliam, Wakefield
countryofbirth = England
heightft = 5
heightinch = 10
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right-arm medium
role = Batsman
international = true
testdebutdate = 4 June
testdebutyear = 1964
testdebutagainst = Australia
testc

lasttestdate = 1 January
lasttestyear = 1982
lasttestagainst = India
odidebutdate = 5 January
odidebutyear = 1971
odidebutagainst = Australia
odic

lastodidate = 20 December
lastodiyear = 1981
lastodiagainst = India
club1 = Yorkshire
year1 = 1962–1986
club2 = Northern Transvaal
year2 = 1971–72
deliveries = balls
columns = 4
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 108
runs1 = 8114
bat avg1 = 47.72
100s/50s1 = 22/42
top score1 = 246*
deliveries1 = 944
wickets1 = 7
bowl avg1 = 54.57
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = 3/47
catches/stumpings1 = 33/–
column2 = ODI
matches2 = 36
runs2 = 1082
bat avg2 = 36.06
100s/50s2 = 1/9
top score2 = 105
deliveries2 = 168
wickets2 = 5
bowl avg2 = 21.00
fivefor2 = –
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 2/14
catches/stumpings2 = 5/–
column3 = FC
matches3 = 609
runs3 = 48426
bat avg3 = 56.83
100s/50s3 = 151/238
top score3 = 261*
deliveries3 = 3685
wickets3 = 45
bowl avg3 = 32.42
fivefor3 = –
tenfor3 = –
best bowling3 = 4/14
catches/stumpings3 = 264/–
column4 = LA
matches4 = 313
runs4 = 10095
bat avg4 = 39.12
100s/50s4 = 8/74
top score4 = 146
deliveries4 = 1975
wickets4 = 30
bowl avg4 = 40.26
fivefor4 = –
tenfor4 = n/a
best bowling4 = 3/15
catches/stumpings4 = 99/–
date = 12 September
year = 1986
source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/9187.html Cricinfo profile

Geoffrey Boycott OBE (born 21 October 1940) is a former cricketer for Yorkshire and England. In an illustrious, but sometimes controversial career from 1962 to 1986, Boycott established himself as one of England's finest opening batsmen. Famous for his ability to occupy the crease, sometimes for a number of days, Boycott made his debut in a 1964 Test match against Australia. While less successful in One Day International matches, becoming the first ever wicket in that form of the game, Boycott went on to be a key feature of England's Test batting line up for many years. He accumulated large scores, but often encountered friction with his team mates, notably Ian Botham, Fred Trueman and Mike Brearley.Greenslade, Nick. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1250944,00.html "First and last"] "The Guardian" retrieved 23 March 2008] Ian Wooldridge commented that "Boycott, in short, walks alone". However, others have stated that his introverted nature has been exaggerated, and that, while he was "obsessed with success", he was not a selfish player.

Boycott was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1965, and made 108 Test match appearances for England, ending his career in 1982 with over 8,000 runs and an OBE. He followed up his playing career by becoming an often outspoken and controversial cricket commentator on both radio and television. In 1998 he faced allegations of assaulting his former partner, Margaret Moore, and in 2002 he was diagnosed with throat cancer for which he underwent radiation treatment. His commentating career was revived in 2003, however, and continues to attract both praise and criticism.

Early life

Boycott was born in the mining village of Fitzwilliam, near Wakefield in Yorkshire. He was the son of Jane (née Speight) and Thomas Wilfred Boycott, a colliery worker. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/portal/2007/06/16/nosplit/famdet116.xml "Family detective: Geoffrey Boycott"] Daily Telegraph retrieved 23 March 2008] When Boycott was eight years old, he fell over some iron spikes near his home, and punctured his chest. He was rushed to hospital, nearly dying and ultimately lost his spleen. In March 1950,McKinstry, p. 15.] his father had a serious accident down the pit, being hit by empty coal tubs which damaged his spine. His father never fully recovered and died in 1967.cite web|url=http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto082220081233286705&page=2|title=Lunch with the FT: Sir Geoffrey Boycott|last=Hunter=Tilney|first=Ludovic|date=August 22, 2008|publisher=Before I Forget|pages=1|language=Language|accessdate=2008-09-26]

Boycott went to Fitzwilliam School, but failed his 11-plus exams and went on to the local Kingsley Secondary Modern School.McKinstry, p. 22.] However, he later passed the late-entry exams a year later, and switched over to attend Hemsworth Grammar School, where in 1958, the year he left school with seven O-levels. He won the school's Individual Cricket Cup. He played for the schools First XI and captained it at age 15. [McKinstry, p. 23.] He also played for the Leeds United under-18 football team, alongside Billy Bremner and attracted the attention of Leeds United scouts in the summer. During the winter he played cricket in the nets at his uncle John Lawrence's house.

Boycott chose to leave school aged 17 and later stated to the BBC in 1965 that this was because he no longer wished to be a financial strain on his parents, and because he wanted to pursue his cricketing career. [McKinstry, p. 25–26.] He worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance from 1958 until 1963 while at the same time playing at a number of cricket clubs, averaging 70 in the South Elmsall district team, which he captained. He also played for the Yorkshire Federation's Under 18 team, and for Barnsley where he was noticed by Clifford Hesketh, who was a member of Yorkshire's County Cricket team committee. [McKinstry, p. 27.]

Playing style

Boycott's playing style revolved around intense concentration, solid defence and attention to detail while avoiding heavy hitting or slogging. [McKinstry, p. 24.] Richard Hutton, Yorkshire and England batsman and son of Len Hutton, described Boycott as a "one-pace player" unable to alter his playing pace as the circumstances dictated. [McKinstry, p. 114.] Nevertheless, Boycott maintained an "impeccable" defensive technique, and a temperament ideally suited for five-day Test matches. [McKinstry, p. 51.]

While this enabled his solid defensive strokes, he was an inhibited stroke player and susceptible to hand and arm injuries due to this approach. Such injuries would be common throughout his career. [McKinstry, p. 98.] He was occasionally vulnerable to left arm bowlers, either due to his inability to adjust his line of stroke or to the fact that during his career there were few fast left-hand bowlers against him to practice in the nets. [McKinstry, p. 143.] However, he was never vulnerable to one bowler in particular, Michael Holding being the most successful against him, dismissing him seven times, a statistic jointly held against Boycott by Gary Sobers and Dennis Lillee but with Holding doing it in the fewest matches. [McKinstry, p. 338.] Peter Lever also spent an entire evening discussing with Boycott his vulnerability when playing the hook stroke, with which he was to get out on more than one occasion. [McKinstry, p. 101.]

Boycott was also a very occasional medium-pace inswing bowler. He was never a genuine all-rounder but took seven wickets at Test level at an average of 54.57, often bowling while wearing his cap turned back-to-front so he could see. At the start of his career, however, he was a below average fielder, having received no coaching on this from Yorkshire and having had little inclination to rectify it when concentrating on his batting. Ken Taylor, a fellow Yorkshire batsman, worked with Boycott who was "limited in [fielding] ability" but had "tremendous determination." Together with Taylor and Boycott's two brothers, his fielding improved and he became a safe pair of hands, though he continued to lack power and pace in the field. [McKinstry, p. 58–59.]

County career

Boycott began playing for his home county in 1962, after impressing in league cricket. In 414 matches for Yorkshire he scored 32,570 runs at 57.85 with a high score of 260 not out against Essex, and 103 centuries in all. He scored another 8,699 runs in List A cricket at 40.08. He twice averaged over 100 in a first class season, 100.12 in 1971 and 102.53 in 1979 and is one of only two players to have achieved this twice - Mark Ramprakash being the other (in 2006 and 2007). He was made captain of Yorkshire in 1971 but was sacked in controversial circumstances in 1978 after failing to win a trophy while in charge. [Rich, T. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010703/ai_n14400642 "`New' Yorkshire ready to restore forgotten glories"] The Independent retrieved 23 March 2008] There was more strife when he was dismissed and then reinstated as a player after a members revolt. Boycott continually clashed with other strong personalities at the club during his career, including Fred Trueman, Brian Close and Ray Illingworth, but remained hugely popular with the Yorkshire crowds.Hill and Williams, p. 150.]

Early days

In his early days, playing occasionally for Yorkshire's second XI together with Dickie Bird and Michael Parkinson, he faced a delivery from Bill Foord which Boycott dispatched to the boundary for four. Foord turned to Parkinson and asked "Christ almighty, what's this lad's name?" [McKinstry, p. 28] Boycott earned his first Yorkshire cap in 1963, his batting based on a watertight defensive technique, with his favourite scoring shots being the on drive and forcing through the covers off the back foot. Early in his career he played in spectacles, before later switching to contact lenses for fear that his career would have ended had he not, as his eyesight was poor. [McKinstry, p. 29.] Boycott's initial appearances for Yorkshire failed to impress, and he continually came in second to his main rival, John Hampshire. When Brian Close took over from Vic Wilson as captain of Yorkshire, however, Close persuaded the committee to keep Boycott on and was rewarded when Boycott scored 145 against Lancashire. [McKinstry, p. 47.] Boycott cemented his place with successive knocks of 76, 49 not out, 50 and 71. He handed in his notice to the Ministry of Pensions that same year. [McKinstry, p. 48.] He then suffered a brief dip in form, however shored up his place in the side with 68, 28 and 113 in the following matches. [McKinstry, p. 49.] Boycott went on to hit his highest score thus far, 165 again against Lancashire, and ended his first season with 1,446 runs at 46.64, coming second out of the entire country. [McKinstry, p. 50.]

At the start of the 1964 season Boycott hit 151 against Middlesex followed by another hundred against Lancashire in May, and then played the Australian tourist side at Lord's, hitting 63. [McKinstry, p. 52.] On 31 May 1964 he was called up for the First Test against Australia at Trent Bridge. Though he became renowned for his ability to occupy the crease for hours he was capable of attacking play. His highest one day score, a match-winning 146, came in the 1965 Gillette Cup final against Surrey. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1960S/1965/ENG_LOCAL/GLTE/KNOCK-OUTS/SURREY_YORKS_GLTE-FINAL_04SEP1965.html "Surrey v Yorkshire at Lord's, 4 Sep 1965"] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008] In his previous Gillette Cup match, the quarter final against Somerset, Boycott had taken 32 overs to accumulate 23 runs [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1960S/1965/ENG_LOCAL/GLTE/SOMERSET_YORKS_GLTE_23JUN1965.html "Somerset v Yorkshire at Taunton, 23 Jun 1965"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] and so at Lord's, after Yorkshire had slowly reached 22/1, captain Brian Close promoted himself to number three to urge Boycott into action. "I joined Geoffrey in the middle and said to him: "Listen, if I call, you bloody well run." Boycott later claimed this plan had been agreed on a fortnight previously.Lister, S. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/252440.html "Who got Boycott biffing?"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] Nevertheless, Boycott hit out, making 146 with 15 fours and three sixes. One of these shots, a lofted straight drive off England paceman Geoff Arnold was nearly caught by Boycott's team mates on the players' balcony, despite the modern-day fielding restrictions not existing in 1965 and thus allowing more fielders to patrol the boundary. Close and Boycott added 194 for the second wicket as Yorkshire posted a then record 317. John Woodcock wrote in "The Times" that "His magnificent innings contained every stroke in the book."Fact|date=July 2008 17 years later, in 1982, Boycott and Graham Stevenson added a record 149 for Yorkshire's tenth wicket against Warwickshire; Stevenson hitting 115.Fact|date=July 2008

Captaincy

Boycott captained Yorkshire for eight seasons from 1971 to 1978, having been given the position following the sacking of Brian Close in 1970. Being captain of Yorkshire had been one of Boycott's aims since he started county cricket in 1963. [McKinstry, p. 121.] Yorkshire's scorer Ted Lester commented, however, that Boycott "never got the support he deserved from the committee. After the captaincy was decided on a casting vote, the half that didn't want him never wanted him." [McKinstry, p. 120.] He also caused strife between his fellow players, with many leaving the club citing personal differences with Boycott as the reason for their departure. [McKinstry, p. 141.] Boycott's eight seasons of captaincy were among Yorkshire's least successful, with the club failing to win any competitions and ranking low in the league tables when they had at one time been a dominant force in English cricket. [McKinstry, p. 120.] Boycott himself, however, did not suffer a drop in form to mirror that of his county's, in his first year as captain he scored 2503 runs at 100.12. His success was cited by Trueman to be evidence that his selfish nature was costing Yorkshire. [McKinstry, p. 122.]

Biographer Leo McKinstry, however, collects statistics to argue that Boycott's captaincy had little effect on Yorkshire, as the club's 47 points in 1971 contrasts to a close 49 in 1970 when Boycott was not captain, and is far higher than 30 in 1969, and in all but one of the matches where Boycott was unable to play, Yorkshire failed to pass 200 with the bat. [McKinstry, p. 123.] Boycott went on to top the national averages in 1972 with 72.35, and was second in 1973 with 63.62, however Yorkshire failed to win a single championship game in that season, which "Wisden" referred to as "disturbingly unsuccessful" and which led to greater calls for Boycott to be stripped of the captaincy. [McKinstry, p. 128.]

In 1974, Boycott's form dropped sharply, scoring only 75 runs in seven matches, and both he and Yorkshire suffered through 1975 and 1976, as did his international career as he refused to play for England from 1974 until 1977. [McKinstry, p. 141, 149.] The summer of 1978 saw Boycott injured with a broken finger, and John Hampshire taking over as captain. Boycott returned later in the season, scoring 968 runs at 50.94, however this was second to Hampshire's 1463 at 54.18 and a poll of the dressing room showed that 95% of the players wanted a change in the captaincy. [McKinstry, p. 179.] On 15 September 1978 Boycott's mother, to whom he was very close, died of cancer, placing further pressure on him. on 29 September, the Yorkshire club committee met with Boycott to discuss terminating his captaincy. A statement by the club outlined Yorkshire's interest to retain Boycott as a player while giving the captaincy to Hampshire. [McKinstry, p. 180.] Boycott, in response, attacked the Yorkshire club and its decision in an appearance on the BBC's flagship chatshow "Parkinson" on 7 October, prompting both strong criticism from the club and strong public support for his own position. [McKinstry, p. 181–182.]

Later years

Boycott, after much thought, continued as a player at Yorkshire, scoring 1941 runs at 61.70 in 1979. This season saw him hit six hundreds, which surpassed Len Hutton's record of 129 first-class centuries. [McKinstry, p. 236.] In the early 1980s, Boycott continued his run of form, however a slow 347-ball knock of 140 incensed captain Ray Illingworth and created friction between Boycott and his supporters and the rest of the Yorkshire Committee. On 3 October 1983 this culminated in a unanimous decision not to offer Boycott a contract for the next season. This generated much protest from Boycott supporters, who rallied for his reinstatement on 9 October in Ossett, Yorkshire. Bill Athey also left the club at this time, and while Boycott in his biography maintained that he had no reason to believe Athey's departure was as a result of his actions, Athey later stated to biographer Leo McKinstry that "Boycott's attitude and the atmosphere he created had everything to do with my decision to leave Yorkshire." The "Members 84 Group", consisting of strong supporters of Boycott, met regularly to clamour for the batsman's reinstatement. [McKinstry, p. 240–241.]

By 21 January 1984 the Yorkshire Club committee, in the face of this rising pressure, agreed to award Boycott a contract for 1984. Members of the committee, including Trueman, Billy Sutcliffe and Ronnie Burnet also resigned. Of the replacement members of the committee, 17 were from the Members 84 Group, and Boycott himself was elected, leaving him with both a position on the team and on the Yorkshire Club committee. [McKinstry, p. 244–246.] The 1984 season was, however, not the most prolific for Boycott. He scored slowly in several matches, "60 in 52 overs against Somerset; 53 in 51 overs against Derbyshire; 17 in 26 overs against Leicestershire; 77 in 67 overs against Sussex" records McKinstry, and this coupled with continued friction between himself and both players and club members. [Mckinstry, p. 248.] In particular, Boycott's place on both the team and the committee led to feelings of distrust from both. Critically, this led to the loss of support from long-term ally Sid Fielden. [McKinstry, p. 250–251.]

His success on the field continued in 1985, where he scored 1657 runs at 75.31, second only to Viv Richards in the national averages. He also hit a record opening partnership of 351 with Martyn Moxon. In contrast to the friction between Boycott and the club and senior players, many junior members of the team remember 1985 and 1986 as very pleasant times to be around Boycott, who often coached them on their technique. [McKinstry, p. 253.] 1986 saw Boycott score 890 runs at 52.35, his season cut short by injuries which were becoming more frequent as he passed the age of 45. [McKinstry, p. 255.] This season was the first that he had not hit an overall total of 1,000 runs since 1962, he finished eight short in his final match, when he was run-out for 61. Since 1984 the support for Boycott had waned in light of his slow scoring, multiple injuries and the general friction around him, and on 23 September 1986 it was confirmed that he would not be offered a contract for the following year. He was offered contracts from other counties, including Derbyshire and Glamorgan however he never took these offers up, nor played professional cricket again. [McKinstry, p. 257–258.]

Test Match career

Over Boycott's 18 year career he scored 8,114 runs in 108 Test matches for England. He was the first England cricketer to pass 8,000 Test runs and is still fourth on England's all-time run scoring list (behind Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart and David Gower). His average of 47.72 runs over 193 innings is second only to Kevin Pietersen among England players since 1970. His Test career included 22 centuries (an England record that he holds jointly with Wally Hammond and Colin Cowdrey). England did not lose a Test match in which he scored a century and only 20 of his 108 Tests ended in defeat. [http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/9187.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting G Boycott Test Batting Analysis] from CricInfo retrieved June 1, 2008]

Debut

Quote box
quote =People say he was a manufactured player, but that's ridiculous. He was very good indeed, though he was a grafter who was more likely to win you a game on a bad wicket. But he had the ability to take an attack apart when he felt it necessary. [McKinstry, p. 31.]
source = – Martyn Moxon on Boycott
width =35%
align =rightBoycott began his Test career only two years after his first class debut, in the first Test of the summer against Australia in 1964. He top scored on debut, making 48 runs from 118 deliveries before he was bowled by Grahame Corling, as England declared at 216 for eight wickets. The match ended as a rain-plagued draw, and Boycott did not bat in the second innings as he had suffered a cracked finger. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62947.html "1st Test: England v Australia, June 4–9, 1964"] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008] [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152821.html "Wisden match report of Nottingham Test, 1964"] , CricInfo retrieved 25 March 2008] He made 48 at Old Trafford, and then hit his maiden century, 113, at Headingley. He finished his first Test series with 291 runs at 48.50. In the same year he topped the country's domestic averages with 59.45. [McKinstry, p. 53–57.] In the winter of 1964, Boycott was selected for the England team touring South Africa. After a low scoring series of warm up matches, he hit 73 in the opening Test, and another 76 in the fourth, followed by 117 in the fifth and final match. He averaged 46.99 overall, and took three three wickets with the ball as England won the test series 1:0. [McKinstry, p. 59.] He had a mixed impact on the other England players, who were impressed by his talent but perplexed by his introverted attitude each time he was dismissed. [McKinstry, p. 61.]

Early career

England hosted New Zealand and South Africa in 1965. Performing moderately against the former, hitting 23 and 44 in the first Test at Edgbaston and 76 in the second at Lords, Boycott missed out on the third Test due to injury. He returned for another Lords match, this time against South Africa, however scored 31 and a slow 28 in 105 minutes. [McKinstry, p. 65.] Speculation arose over his place, and after a duck and a two hour and twenty minute long 16, when England needed to mount a large total quickly, and which "Wisden" described as a "dreadful effort when courage was needed" he was dropped and replaced by Eric Russell. [McKinstry, p. 65–66.] Boycott was brought back into the team following the summer and toured Australia that winter with the Marylebone Cricket Club to compete the Ashes, however illness dogged his performance initially. [McKinstry, p. 68.] He then hit a form of "brighter cricket" during the first and second tests. Uncharacteristically, he hit a four from his very first delivery at Perth, and put on 98 in 16 overs with Bob Barber in the second Test. In the third, Boycott and Barbder put on an opening partnership of 234 in four hours, Boycott hitting 84, his highest score of a series where he also took three wickets with the ball. His form deserted him again, however, when the MCC went on to tour New Zealand. [McKinstry, p. 69–70.]

In 1966, England faced the West Indies, and Boycott struggled with a series average of 26.57, however few English batsmen impressed. He was left out for the first Test, however did partake in a partnership of 115 with Tom Graveney. [McKinstry, p. 71.] Nevertheless, it was a disappointing year for Boycott both for England and Yorkshire, and his average for the former fell to 36.60. [McKinstry, p. 72.] Furthermore, he had only passed 50 twice in his last 12 first-class innings. He rediscovered his form the following summer, however. Boycott's highest Test score of 246* came against India on 8-9 June 1967 on his home ground of Headingley. Batting for 573 minutes [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63004.html England v India - 1st Test, 1967] from CricInfo retrieved 1 June 2008] (slightly under ten hours),McKinstry, p. 73.] Boycott struck thirty fours and a six at a strike rate of 44.32. He began his innings slowly, scoring 106 runs in six hours, with 17 of those in the first and eight in the second. This particularly frustrated the England selectors as the pitch was excellent for batting, and the Indian attack had been weakened by injury. Such frustration was exacerbated by Boycott's adding of 140 runs in four hours on the second day. Ian Wooldridge recording in the "Daily Mail" that Boycott "could not be excused by his nearest and dearest relations." He did not bat in the second innings as England won by six wickets.

This slow scoring and what was perceived as a selfish attitude led to Boycott being dropped from the team after the match.McKinstry, p. 73–74.] A combination of low confidence and a throat infection limited Boycott to two other Test appearances, against India and Pakistan respectively, for the rest of the year. He nevertheless again topped the domestic averages with 1260 at 48.46. [McKinstry, p. 75–76.] 1967 took England to the West Indies, where Boycott hit a rich seam of form, scoring 463 runs at 66.14 and seeing England home safely with a series victory of 1–0. [McKinstry, p. 76–78.]

The next two years saw only a sporadic inclusion of Boycott in the test team. A back injury in 1967 forced Boycott to miss half the season, and an average of 32.00 against the Australians during the follow years Ashes was unspectacular with Boycott hitting scores of 35, 11, 49, 36 and 31 in the series. Domestically, his injury also limited his contribution, however he did hit five centuries before he was forced to stop playing in June 1968. [McKinstry, p. 79.] A tour of Pakistan in the winter of 1968 left Boycott behind complaining of troubles with his spleen and with adjusting to his new contact lenses. [McKinstry, p. 95.] He was back in the team by the summer of 1969, scoring 128 against the West Indies at Old Trafford, and another century at Lords, however his form slipped and he scored 12 and zero in the next match. Boycott then suffered at the hands of New Zealand, averaging only 20.20 with two ducks, and then succumbed to an injury towards the end of the domestic season. [McKinstry, p. 96–98.]

His form returned by 1970. While he was left out of the first three Tests against the World XI, he played in the fourth and scored 15 and 64, and in the final Test of the summer scored 157. He won the Walter Lawrence Trophy for this century. Over the winter of 1970–71 Boycott toured Australia, and averaged 95.93 over all first-class matches. He scored 173 in the first warm up match, followed it with 124 against Queensland. In the third Test match, having hit good partnerships in the first two, Boycott made 77 and 142*. [McKinstry, p. 103–104.] During the second match, Boycott allegedly told Basil D'Oliveira, the latter having just announced that he had worked out the action of Australian spinner Johnny Gleeson, that he had "sorted that out a fortnight ago." This incident was used as evidence for Boycott's selfish attitude for many years after. The fifth Test was drawn, Boycott making 12 and 76*, and in the sixth Test he was run out for 58. Boycott initially refused to leave the ground in disbelief, and eventually walked off to boos from the crowd. [McKinstry, p. 105.] He injured his arm in a following one day match and missed the final Test, where England retained the Ashes. He later maintained that the injury permanently affected his wrist, and that he carried a squash ball in a sock in his pocket, which he could squeeze to keep his wrist strong. [McKinstry, p. 102–106.]

In 1971, Boycott made his One Day International debut against Australia. He was the first batsman to receive a ball in a one day international and his was the first wicket to fall, scoring eight from 37 balls. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64148.html "ODI: Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 5, 1971"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] In the summer of 1971 he enjoyed an average of over 100 in domestic cricket, and scored 112 against Pakistan at Lords. [McKinstry, p. 121.]

Exile and controversy

Boycott spent 1974 to 1977 in self-imposed exile from the England team. He claimed he had simply lost his appetite for Test cricket and the stress got too much for him,Boycott, G. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/11/15/scfron15.xml "Trescothick first victim of this greedy game"] "Daily Telegraph" retrieved 23 March 2008] but the move may also have been linked to the appointments of Mike Denness and then Tony Greig as England Captain in preference to him. [McKinstry, p. 134.] Boycott was very critical of Denness' captaincy and his standard of batting in his autobiography. This period of "exile" also enabled him to avoid fast-bowlers Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Andy Roberts, and Michael Holding at their peaks, although he came back to face the West Indies pace battery at its most fearsome in the late 70s and early 80s.

In his autobiography and an interview, Boycott has responded to these accusations by pointing out that Lillee had been out of cricket for 21 months suffering from a serious back complaint and that Thomson had not played in Tests for 23 months prior to the 1974–5 Ashes series, since an unsuccessful debut Test against Pakistan (Thomson's match figures were 0-110). [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/76472.html "Boycott opens the batting for his future] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008] Furthermore, he was dismissed for 99 in the first innings against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 1973–74 and scored 112 in the second, followed by a career-best 261 not out against a West Indies Board President's XI. All of these teams included both Roberts and Holding. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1973-74/ENG_IN_WI/ENG_PRES-XI_23-26JAN1974.html "President's XI v England XI at Bridgetown, 23–26 Jan 1974"] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008]

Comeback Tests

In his "comeback" Test against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1977 he ran out Derek Randall in front of his home crowd before going to make a century. In this match, in which Ian Botham made his England debut, he batted on each of the five days of the match: his first innings 107 started at the end of the first day, he batted throughout the second day and was dismissed on the third day; he started his second innings at the end of day four and batted throughout England's successful run chase scoring 80 not out. Among England batsmen, only Allan Lamb and Andrew Flintoff have emulated this feat of batting on all five days. Botham later remarked that "The Aussies, shell-shocked at having to bowl at Boycott for twenty-two and a half hours, capitulated without much of a fight."McKinstry, p. 163.]

On 12 August 1977 he scored 191 against Australia in the fourth Test in front of a full house at his home ground of Leeds, becoming the first cricketer to score his one hundredth first class century in a Test match and the fourth English player to be on the field for the entire duration of a Test Match. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/columns/engine/match/63193.html "4th Test: England v Australia at Leeds, Aug 11–15, 1977"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] Boycott reached the milestone with a characteristic on drive from the bowling of Greg Chappell through mid-on for four. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/307164.html Boycott's Headingley heaven] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008] Boycott ended the series with an average of 147.33 and 442 runs, raising his average over 50 for the first time in his career.

Appointed vice-captain for the ensuing tour of Pakistan and New Zealand that winter, Boycott took over as captain in 1978 for two Tests when Mike Brearley was injured, and brought with him his successful summer form, however he was replaced upon Brearley's return. While the rest of the England team took part in warm-up matches, Boycott remained in Lahore and organised a special warm up match where the team would play itself, however he went on the occupy the crease for a long period of time, limiting the amount of time other players had to practice. He later stated that, as the number one batsman, he should have the most time in the middle.McKinstry, p. 166] In the second Test match, he scored 79 and 100*, increasing his statistics since his return to the England team to 684 runs at 136.80. It was between this match and the third Test that Brearley broke his arm, giving Boycott the captaincy. Boycott led England to a draw in the fourth match, his leadership meeting mixed reviews. [McKinstry, p. 168]

Following Pakistan, Boycott and the England team traveled to New Zealand. England were defeated in the opening Test for the first time in 48 years, Boycott taking seven hours and 22 minutes to score 77 runs, and England being bowled out for 64 when chasing 137 to win.McKinstry p. 170.] In the second match, Botham's first Test century took England to a commanding 418, however by the end of the match England needed to score quickly to force a draw. Boycott, however, told his team that he would play the way he always had, and proceeded to accumulate runs very slowly. Derek Randall was run out, and Botham came out to bat with his captain, informing the dressing room that "Boycs will be back in here before the end of the over." Botham then ran Boycott out, later claiming in his autobiography that he had done it deliberately. [Armstrong, p. 99.] Indeed, some have suggested that this was a team order. Boycott disputes the suggestion that the run-out was deliberate in his autobiography, referring to Botham's account as "a story that gets bigger and more fanciful with every telling". [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/278631.html "What have you done, what have you done?"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] The tale does nevertheless remain a renowned story. [Whannel, p. 139.] Boycott then delayed his declaration, much to the frustration of England bowler Bob Willis. England did eventually declare, and Willis took 4/14, New Zealand bowled out for 105 and England winning by 174 runs. Boycott suffered a scratch on his cornea and missed the last two days of the final match, [McKinstry, p. 171.] and by the start of the 1978 season, Brearley had taken the captaincy back from Boycott. [McKinstry, p. 173.]

Ashes series, West Indies and India

During the 1978–79 Ashes series, Boycott unusually went in at No. 11 in the second innings of a match against state side South Australia (not due to injury). [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1978-79/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_SOA_22-24DEC1978.html "England v South Australia at Adelaide, 22–24 Dec 1978"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] Boycott then played in the 1979 Cricket World Cup held in England, taking two wickets in the opening match against Australia, which England won. The hosts then went on to win their next two games and topped their table for the opening round. Reaching the final after a close victory against New Zealand in which Boycott scored only two, [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC79/ENG_NZ_WC79_ODI-SEMI1_20JUN1979.html "England v New Zealand, 1979 World Cup Semi-Final"] CricInfo retrieved 6 April 2008] he hit 57 from 105 balls as England chased Viv Richards 138*-inspired 286 to win, falling 92 runs short at 194 all out. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC79/WI_ENG_WC79_ODI-FINAL_23JUN1979.html "England v West Indies, 1979 World Cup Final"] CricInfo retrieved April 6, 2008] Boycott ended the competition with the fourth highest strike rate of 42.99 and an average of 23.00. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC79/AVS/WC79_AVS_ENG.html 1979 World Cup - averages] CricInfo retrieved 6 April 2008]

Following the world cup, against Australia during a Test match at Perth in 1979–80, Boycott became the first man to be marooned on 99 not out in a Test when he ran out of partners. England then toured the West Indies. Here, Boycott again faced the West Indies feared pace attack, but succeeded in scoring centuries off of the likes of Holding, Roberts, Colin Croft and Joel Garner, despite having passed the age of 40 the previous year. [McKinstry, p. 31.] Other batsmen, such as David Gower found the attack difficult to cope with, and the later England captain stated that Boycott often had no sympathy.McKinstry, p. 200.] Boycott was, however, the most successful batsman during a tour where England went down 2–0. He scored 70 in the opening match, the only England player to pass 50. In the third match, Boycott was to face what was later said to be Holding's greatest over. Boycott was hit on the gloves by the first delivery, played-and-missed the second outside off stump, was hit on the thigh by the third, fended the next two deliveries away with his bat, and was then bowled by the final delivery.McKinstry, p. 201.] Williamson, M. [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/144327.html "The greatest over of them all?"] CricInfo retrieved 8 April 2008] He noted that "For the first time in my life I can look at a scoreboard with a duck against my name and not feel a profound sense of failure." Boycott led an England fight back in the fourth Test. Having watched Holding's over several times on video, and worked in the nets on his game, Boycott came out and made 38 in the first innings and then hit his twentieth Test century. His career run total was now 7410, gaining on Gary Sobers' record of 8032. [McKinstry, p. 202.]

Boycott then played in the 1981 Ashes series. During the second Test at Lord's Cricket Ground Boycott was dismissed 40 short of a century by Dennis Lillee, and was "crushed".Meher-Homji, p. 21.] Just prior to reaching his hundredth Test match during the series, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours "for services to Cricket." [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23380512-details/Geoffrey%20Boycott%20accuses%20England%20cricket%20flops%20of%20devaluing%20MBE/article.do "Geoffrey Boycott accuses England cricket flops of devaluing MBE"] The Evening Standard retrieved 25 March 2008] [LondonGazette|issue=48212|supp=yes|startpage=9|endpage=10|date=13 June 1980|accessdate=2008-03-26] Forever keen on the England captaincy, Boycott's hopes were cut short when Bothams 149 not out secured victory in Boycott's 101st Test match, and Mike Brearley's position as captain was made secure.Meher-Homji, p. 22.] During the series, Boycott became concerned with his form and that he may be dropped before he could chase Sobers' record in the upcoming tour of India. He had scored only 10 and 37 in the fifth Test, however in the drawn Sixth Test he scored 137 at The Oval, passing Colin Cowdrey's record of 7624 runs and becoming England's highest run-scorer. [McKinstry, p. 203.]

"Bye bye Boycott"

By now, Boycott`s fame and constant attention from the media had begun to affect his personal life. [McKinstry, p. 204.] He was again refused the captaincy for the next Test series against India over the winter of 1981–82. Angered by this decision, he stated that "even the Yorkshire Ripper got a fair trial in the dock but I've not been given a single chance." He later battled Keith Fletcher over his slow scoring rate, playing Fletcher's comments to him during a press conference using a tape recorder.McKinstry, p. 261.] The series against India was to be his last. In his final ODI match during England's tour he scored 12 from 18 deliveries. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64181.html "2nd ODI: India v England at Jalandhar, 20 December 1981"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] During the following Test series he passed Sobers' career run record, hitting 60 in the first Test, 36 and 50 in the second to take him 81 runs short, and in the third Test he overtook the record with a flick off his pads for four. [McKinstry, p. 228.] In his last Test match, the fourth of the tour, taking place in January 1982, he scored 18 and six. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63301.html "4th Test: India v England at Kolkata, Jan 1–6, 1982"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] During the tour, Boycott claimed that he was too ill to field in a Test Match, but it was later discovered that he was playing golf while his teammates were still out on the field.

This led to him being dropped from the side and forced to return to England, despite apologising via note to the England dressing room. [McKinstry, p. 230.] He claimed in his autobiography, however, that he went to the golf course following medical advice to get fresh air.McKinstry, p. 229] Later in 1982 he was instrumental in organising, in defiance of a United Nations and a TCCB ban, a so-called "rebel" tour of apartheid South Africa by 13 current and former England Test cricketers, who were almost all nearing the end of their careers. All the players were banned from international cricket for three years as a result. [McKinstry, p. 231–235] By the mid 1980s, with Boycott in good county form and physical shape, there was speculation that he might return to the England side. David Gower, England captain of the time, however, stated that "Geoffrey's been a marvellous servant for England but we have to look to the future and, in view of his age, it wouldn't make an awful lot of sense to pick him again." This was confirmed by the return of Graham Gooch and Tim Robinson's 175 against Australia at Leeds, which prompted Botham to sing "Bye bye Boycott" from the England balcony. [McKinstry, p. 254–255.]

Commentator, controversy and later life

Commentating

Cricket commentator and statistician Simon Hughes states that Boycott is fastidious in the commentary box, always immaculately dressed, and never socializes with the other commentators or production staff. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/76547.html "Conviction costs Boycott outlet for unique voice"] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008] He is noted as having invented the phrase "corridor of uncertainty" as a reference to the area outside the off stump where a batsman is unsure whether he should leave or hit the ball, and for using a key to measure the hardness of the pitch, that is until this was outlawed by the International Cricket Council.

Boycott was offered a role by talkSPORT, who chose to back him in spite of an assault conviction (subsequently upheld on appeal). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/211569.stm "Boycott loses assault case"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008] [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/76471.html "Broadcasters drop Boycott as assault conviction is upheld"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] He continued to commentate for the station, along with various satellite and Asian channels, until 2003, when his career was further threatened by throat cancer. Having successfully undergone chemotherapy, Boycott's career enjoyed a renaissance as he returned to high-profile commentating with Channel 4, which had meanwhile taken over from the BBC in televising England's home Test games. In November 2005, Boycott rejoined the BBC's Test Match Special to provide commentary for England's 2005 tour of Pakistan. In January 2006, Boycott joined Asian channel Ten Sports. He delivered the Colin Cowdrey Lecture in 2005, speaking about the need for cricket to adapt to changing circumstances and embrace innovations like Twenty20.

He currently commentates on Cricket on Five with Mark Nicholas and Simon Hughes as his co-commentators. Boycott was a member of the BBC Cricket Team for commentary on the 2006/7 Ashes series. His role, as in his other commentary-related work, was to contribute to discussion of the main talking points. During England's 5–0 whitewash by Australia, Boycott stated that the team were undeserving of their MBEs and that he felt "so bad about mine I'm going to tie it round my cat. It doesn't mean anything anymore. It's a joke". Boycott has been credited as having a high level of influence in the game, with Yorkshire's Chief Executive Stewart Regan crediting Boycott over the completion of a deal for Younis Khan to play county cricket for Yorkshire in the 2007 Season. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/yorkshire/6099402.stm "Boycott key to Younis signing"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008] On a larger scale, Boycott has worked towards scrapping the rule at Yorkshire regarding the number of overseas players. He stated that he believed Brian Close and the other selectors to be living in past times, and that he wished to encourage a growth in the number of players from Pakistan, the West Indies or India.Williams, p. 188.]

Quote box
quote =...the fact is that within the England dressing room [Boycott's] views are regarded as a joke. People who only have a passing interest in the game hear the famous Geoff Boycott Yorkshire accent and may think it gives some status to his opinions. But inside the dressing room he has no status, he is just an accent, some sort of caricature of a professional Yorkshireman. Indeed, quite a few of us cringe whenever he comes near.
source = – Steve Harmison on Boycott
width =35%
align =left

His on air commentary has caused controversy. As a commentator, Boycott has renewed his 'pull-no-punches' style in contrast to most of his fellow commentators. In particular he is known for criticizing players. After witnessing a dropped catch, he said "I reckon my mum could have caught that in her pinny", and in 2005 he mocked the Australian captain Ricky Ponting for electing to bowl first on a flat track, saying he was a "nice man" for being so generous to the England team. In 2006, he was initially receptive to the difficulties endured by Marcus Trescothick during his periods of stress-related illness; however, he was not always as amiable. In March 2008, recently dropped Steve Harmison attacked Boycott in an article in the "Daily Mail" where he referred to Boycott as a "waste of space."Harmison, Steve, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=542337&in_page_id=1951 "Boycott? He's got no status with us, he's just a Yorkshire accent"] Daily Mail retrieved March 23, 2008] This was in response to Boycott's statement a few days previously on 19 March 2008 that if Harmison "gets a central contract this summer then a lot of us will be screaming favouritism and a total waste of money. England should forget him". [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/cricket.html?in_article_id=539569&in_page_id=1849 "Boycott's bouncer to Harmison: You're a waste of money and England should forget you"] Daily Mail retrieved March 23, 2008]

Court case

Boycott's personal life has continued to enter the spotlight on occasion since his retirement from England and the beginning of his commentary career. In 1996, Boycott was accused by Margaret Moore, a former lover, of assault. Boycott denied the charges, claiming she had fallen over and injured herself. He pointed to the fact that Moore was in financial difficulties and said that he would never hit a woman. However, in the second trial beginning on 20 October 1998, Boycott, having missed the first trial in January where his conviction had been set, appeared before a French Magistrates court and was given a three-month suspended sentence, [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/76470.html "Boycott sentenced to three months suspended"] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008] and £5,300 fine were confirmed, [McKinstry, p. 314.] which he appealed against. According to Boycott, Moore had grown angry when he refused to marry her, stating that "he was not the marrying kind". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/49075.stm "Angry Boycott denies assault charges"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008] Boycott nevertheless later married Margaret Rachel Swinglehurst on 26 February 2003 at Wakefield Register Office, and they have a daughter, born October 1988. [McKinstry, p. 327.] They currently live in Woolley. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2003/05/23/scboyc23.xml&sSheet=/sport/2003/05/23/ixsport.html&_requestid=141696 "Boycott shows his fighting spirit against cancer"] Daily Telegraph retrieved 23 March 2008] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/2825229.stm "Cricket legend Boycott marries"] BBC News retrieved March 23, 2008]

The conviction gravely jeopardised Boycott's commentating career. At the time of the conviction he was working for BSkyB and BBC Radio, commentating on England's tour of the West Indies. He was sacked from both roles. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/51608.stm "BSkyB drops Boycott"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/51237.stm "Boycott dropped by BBC"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008] He was also sacked from his columnist's job in "The Sun", which announced the dismissal in an article on the front page with the headline "Sun Sacks Boycott the Brute", [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/211959.stm "Boycott facing test of public opinion"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008] although the Sun gave Boycott an undertaking in writing that they would continue to employ him regardless of the result of the court case, [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/76472.html "Boycott opens the batting for his future"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] as did Talk Sport. [McKinstry, p. 316.] A BBC television spokesman said "Geoffrey Boycott is not under contract with the BBC [television] and there are no plans to use him in the future." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/211569.stm "Boycott loses assault case"] BBC News retrieved 23 March 2008]

Boycott's commentating career continued, however, as he was able to carry on working overseas, particularly in India. He hosted "The Boycs and Suni Show" with Sunil Gavaskar and he hosted the touring Indian team at his home in August 2002. [McKinstry, p. 319.] He also worked in South Africa and coached the Pakistan cricket team upon request. In 2001, as resentment towards him in the British media following the court case died down, he was reinstated as a writer for British newspapers, and there was speculation that he would lead Lancashire Cricket Club following the departure of Bobby Simpson, though Mike Watkinson eventually took the role.

Throat cancer

Talk Sport, and Indian and South African television, continued to use Boycott as a commentator in 2002, during which he suffered a continual sore throat. Finding a lump while shaving, Boycott returned to England, and on 20 August 2002 was examined at Leeds General Infirmary. By 3 September, he was informed that he had four cancerous tumours in his throat. Initially, surgeons recommended an eight-hour procedure to remove the tumours; however, their size and proximity to his voice box eventually chose them to recommend chemotherapy, of which Boycott had 35 sessions from 22 October. By December, scans revealed that the majority of the tumours had disappeared, and the final tumour's disappearance was confirmed in early 2003. [McKinstry, 324.] Although initially reluctant to discuss his health with the public, he spoke privately with his daughter, Emma, and then released a statement publicly, which evoked a significant emotional response. [McKinstry, p. 325.] On 16 August 2003, he was given a standing ovation by the crowd at Trent Bridge as he and a number of other cricketers did a lap of the ground in vehicles to celebrate Trent Bridge's 50th Test match.

Return to commentary

Following this public support, Boycott resumed his writings for the "Daily Telegraph" and his commentary for Channel Four for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Championship Final and then the following summer. Radio Five Live then hired Boycott in early 2004. His fellow commentators state that his illness has altered his voice and led to a more pleasant personality, but that he is still prone to unpleasant behaviour. Channel Four producer Gary Francis stated "I think Geoff is a lot more mellow now. He still has his moments, like when the taxi does not arrive and he is not happy, as he makes extremely clear. But overall he's great fun to work with." [McKinstry, p. 328–330.] In early 2008 there was speculation that Boycott would be awarded a role amongst the England coaching staff, pertaining in particular to the coaching of Andrew Flintoff back from injury. On 8 May 2008, however, the ECB revealed that Boycott would not hold such a position. The two had been involved in the past, and while Flintoff is an admirer of Boycott, the ECB stressed any coaching relationship would be informal. Boycott was, however, used to give informal talks to younger cricket players, and may find a place coaching the England U19s. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7389791.stm "No senior England job for Boycott"] BBC News retrieved May 8, 2008]

Written works

Throughout his career in international cricket and well into retirement, Boycott has written a number of works on cricket, including his own autobiography and a joint project on the biography of umpire Dickie Bird:

* "Geoff Boycott's Book for Young Cricketers", 1976.
* "Put to the Test", 1979.
* "Opening up", 1980.
* "In The Fast Lane", 1981
* "Sir Geoffrey. 21 Years of Yorkshire Cricket", 1984.
* "Boycott: The Autobiography", 1987.
* "Free as a Bird: Like and Times of Harold "Dickie" Bird" with David Hopps, 1997.
* "Geoffrey Boycott on Cricket", 1999.
* "The Best XI", 2008

Records

* "Wisden", a Cricketer of the Year for 1965, when he played nine Test matches, scoring 617 runs with one century and four fifties at an average of 47.46. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/9187.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=default;spanmax1=31+Dec+1965;spanmin1=01+Jan+1965;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting "G Boycott - Batting analysis: 1965"] CricInfo retrieved 24 March 2008]
* Winner of the Walter Lawrence Trophy in 1970.

Test matches

Records:

* Fourteenth quickest player to reach 8,000 runs, taking 190 innings. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283187.html "Fastest to 8,000 Test runs"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008]
* Most centuries for England, shared with Cowdrey and Hammond.McKinstry, p. 341.]
* First player to score 99 and then a century in a Test match.
* First player to score 99 not out.
* Most century partnerships, 48, by an England player.
* Test career of 17 years and 216 days. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283451.html "Test match records - longest career"] CricInfo retrieved March 23, 2008]
* In 1977 against Australia, became the first England player to bat all five days of a Test match. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/9187.html Geoffre Boycott] at CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008]
* Topped the national averages for six seasons, the highest of any post-World War II player.
* Fourth highest career runs total for an England player, 8114, behind Graham Gooch Alec Stewart and David Gower. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/223646.html "Test matches - Most runs in a career"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008]
* Sixth most capped player for England in Tests.
* Longest time spent at the crease was 629 minutes for 191 runs in 1977. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284006.html "Longest individual Test innings (by minutes)"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008]

Opening partners

Such was his longevity in the game that he had 16 opening partners for England. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/9187.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting;view=fow_list "G Boycott - Batting analysis: List of partnerships"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008] [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/9187.html?class=1;orderby=partner;template=results;type=batting;view=fow_summary "G Boycott - Batting Analysis: Partnership summary"] CricInfo retrieved 23 March 2008]

One Day Internationals

Records

* Faced the first One Day International ball and was the first batsman to be dismissed in an ODI.

Career performance:

Notes

References

;Printed sources:

* Armstrong, G. "Legends of Cricket", Allen and Unwin, 2002. ISBN 1865088366
* Boycott, G. "Boycott: The Autobiography", Pan Books, 1987. ISBN 0330447378
* Boycott, G. "Geoffrey Boycott on Cricket", Ebury Press, 1999. ISBN 0091853761
* Callaghan, J. "Geoffrey Boycott", H. Hamilton, 1982. ISBN 0241107121
* Clark, C. D. "The Test Match Career of Geoffrey Boycott", Spellmount, 1986. ISBN 0946771073
* Cox, R. W. "British Sport: A Bibliography to 2000: Volume 3", Routledge, 2003. ISBN 0714652520
* Hill, J. and J. Williams, "Sport and Identity in the North of England", Edinburgh University Press, 1996. ISBN 0415170370
* McKinstry, Leo, "Geoff Boycott A Cricketing Hero", HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN 0007196938
* Meher-Homji, K. "Heroes of 100 Tests: From Cowdrey and the Waughs to Warne, Tendulkar and Hooper", Roseberg Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1877058114
* Williams, J. "Cricket and Race", Berg Publishers, 2001. ISBN 1859733093
* Whannel, G. "Media Sport Stars: Masculinities and Moralities", Routledge, 2002. ISBN 0415170370

;Websites:

* Boycott, G. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/11/15/scfron15.xml "Trescothick first victim of this greedy game".] "Daily Telegraph"
** Boycott, G. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?menuId=1087&menuItemId=6837&view=COLUMNIST&grid=F7 "Geoffrey Boycott column archive"] telegraph.co.uk
* Greenslade, N. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1250944,00.html "First and last".] "The Guardian"
* Lister, S. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/252440.html "Who got Boycott biffing?".] CricInfo
* Harmison, S. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=542337&in_page_id=1951 "Boycott? He's got no status with us, he's just a Yorkshire accent".] "Daily Mail"
* Williamson, M. [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/144327.html "The greatest over of them all?"] CricInfo

External links

*
* [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1228/1228.html Player Profile: Geoffrey Boycott] from Cricket Archive

Persondata
NAME = Boycott, Geoffrey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = English cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH = October 21, 1940
PLACE OF BIRTH = Fitzwilliam, Wakefield, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =