Full name Geoffrey Boycott
Born October 21, 1940, Fitzwilliam, Yorkshire
Current age 80 years 127 days
Major teams England, Northern Transvaal, Yorkshire
Also known as Sir Geoff Boycott
Nickname Fiery, Boycs, Thatch
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium
Other Commentator
Height 5 ft 10 in
Education Hemsworth Grammar School
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 108 | 193 | 23 | 8114 | 246* | 47.72 | 22 | 42 | 8 | 33 | 0 | |||
ODIs | 36 | 34 | 4 | 1082 | 105 | 36.06 | 2020 | 53.56 | 1 | 9 | 84 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
First-class | 609 | 1014 | 162 | 48426 | 261* | 56.83 | 151 | 238 | 264 | 0 | ||||
List A | 313 | 302 | 44 | 10095 | 146 | 39.12 | 8 | 74 | 99 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 108 | 20 | 944 | 382 | 7 | 3/47 | 3/47 | 54.57 | 2.42 | 134.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ODIs | 36 | 6 | 168 | 105 | 5 | 2/14 | 2/14 | 21.00 | 3.75 | 33.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First-class | 609 | 3685 | 1459 | 45 | 4/14 | 32.42 | 2.37 | 81.8 | 0 | 0 | |||
List A | 313 | 1975 | 1208 | 30 | 3/15 | 3/15 | 40.26 | 3.66 | 65.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Test debut | England v Australia at Nottingham, Jun 4-9, 1964 scorecard |
Last Test | India v England at Kolkata, Jan 1-6, 1982 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
ODI debut | Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 5, 1971 scorecard |
Last ODI | India v England at Jalandhar, Dec 20, 1981 scorecard |
ODI statistics | |
First-class span | 1962 - 1986 |
List A span | 1963 - 1985 |
If ever a defence appeared to be impenetrable it was that of Yorkshireman Geoff Boycott when his mind was set on staying in. The features of his forward stroke were the distance he thrust forward behind a big left pad, how low his head was as he searched for signs of movement from the ball, and its balance and compactness. Add a sharp-edged thigh-pad protecting the top of his leg and there wasn't a chink of daylight to be seen. If he hadn't made himself unavailable for 30 Tests in his prime - because, it was thought he felt that he, rather than Mike Denness, should have succeeded Ray Illingworth as captain - he would surely have become the first Englishman to make 10,000 Test runs. He returned triumphantly in 1977, scoring a century in his comeback Test and another - his 100th in first-class cricket - in front of his adoring home crowd at Headingley. As opener he saw his first task as scoring heavily enough to protect his teams against defeat, and in Test cricket and the County Championship - the matches that counted in the first-class averages - he was as sparing with the attacking strokes as, in retirement, he is strident in his opinions on the game. How valuable he was to England is shown by the fact that only 20 of his 108 Tests ended in defeat, mainly when he failed. His most productive strokes, off the back foot through the covers (his speciality) and the on-drive, were majestic in their power and placement. But he was not the man to press home an advantage. A loner, and an insatiable net-player, he was short of friends inside the game; indeed there were many who heartily disliked him because of his self-centredness. But he had charm, and responded warmly to those who offered friendship. After his retirement he became a trenchant commentator and was, somewhat controversially, knighted in Prime Minister Theresa May's resignation honours in September 2019.
John Thicknesse
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1965
Walter Lawrence Trophy 1970
First England player to bat on all days of a five-day Test (1977 Trent Bridge v Australia)
Received first ball in a ODI and was first wicket to fall