*Harsh Thakor writes
Boycott’s batting was a lesson in the coaching book for a schoolboy.It is difficult to imagine a batsman having a more compact defence.Technically he was almost perfect in the league of Len Hutton or Sunil Gavaskar.The movement of his feet and the drop of his bat looked like a well programmed machinewith phenomenal powers of Concentration.Like Sunil Gavaskar he also had tremendous determination.Boycott plays beautifully Straight with an ‘initial “back and across movement, which helps him decide whether he has to play forward or back.Boycott’ principally plays sideways on.Witnessing Boycott bat was like watching a video tape of correct batting in a coaching Clinic.In the modern era no batsman has been more difficult to dismiss-like breaking an impregnable enemy barricade.
A son of a coal miner from whom Boycott inherited his temperamental and physical prowess he developed relatively late.Boycott was trained by his Uncle Alkbert and the former Somerset Leg Spinner, Johnny Lawrence.Boycott made his debut in proper First Class Cricket at the age of 22 years.On a rain affected wicket Boycott scored a superb 90 out of 144.This was the first time he displayed his amazing guts.
A year later Boycott made his test debut against Australia scoring 48.In that series he scored his first test hundred against Australia.After that Boycott was almost a natural selection.However despite his sound technique he often disappointed colleagues by selfish batting.In 1967, he scored 246 at Leeds and was dropped from the side for Selfish batting.The Selectors felt that he had consumed too much time which went against the team’s interests.In 1967-68 tour of West Indies Boycott displayed the solidity of a rock against Hall and Griffiths.Boycott’s 80 not out enabled England to gain a historic 7 wicket win in Trinidad after West Indies under Sobers had declared.At Barbados, Boycott scored a hundred.It was a display of high technical skill.
In 1971 in a first class season Boycott averaged 100.12 in an English season, becoming the only English batsman to average over a hundred in a season.
In 1973-74 Boycott’s dour batting display was mainly responsible for England squaring a 3 match series in which they were outplayed for the major part.Boycott scored 99 and 112 on a wicket with wearing bounce.He magnificiently displayed his technique, batting like a surgeon performing an operation.On that tour Boycott also scored 261 not out for M.C.C against the West Indian Board 11 at Bridgetown.
In 1974 Boycott went into a self-imposed exile from the game.Experts feel thatbhe shirked facing the menace of Lillee and Thomson.
In 1977 in the Ashes Boycott made a historic return.He scored 2 Centuries averaging over 100 runs, including scoring a Century in his 100th first-class hundred at his home ground at Leeds.It was one of English Cricket’s most emotional moments.Boycott was the scourge of the bowling and the Aussie bowlers could hardly pass the blade of boycott’s bat held as straight as an arrow.
In 1978-79 Boycott yhad a poor series in Australia in the Ashes but returned playing 2 successful home series against India where he scored 2 Centuries averaging over 75.At Ebgbaston he scored 155 while at the Oval scored 125.In the 1979 First class season Boycott repeated his 1971 performance averaging 102.53
On the 1979-80 winter tour Boycott showed his ability to play Australian paceman like Lillee and Thomson.Boycott scored a fine 99 not out on a quick pitch at Perth.His footwork and ability to handle the bouncing ball was remarkable.Boycott averaged over 80 in one day games which was remarkable.Boycott made big scores against Australia .
In 1980 Boycott heroically combated the West Indian pace attack averaging 48 runs showing great solidity in dealing with the pace attack and often played the role of an anchor of a ship.Boycott was like a big boulder blocking racing cars.He repeated this performance in the West Indies where he made a Century in the 3rd test at Antigua.It was a marvel to watch his perfect footwork and dedication to resist the greatest bowlers on fast wickets.In the slips Viv Richard remarked, ”You have to give it to the man, he never gives it away.”Boycott would drop his wrists in classic style against the fastest of deliveries, rising up from a length enabling the ball to drop just short of slips.
In the 1981 Ashes apart from a Century at the Oval in the final test Boycott had a disappointing series averaging 32.Alderman’s swinging deliveries seemed to get the better of him as well as Lawson’s pace at timesHowever in 1981-82 against India Boycott scored a Century at Dehi andmade history becoming Test Cricket’s greatest Run scorer, eclipsing Gary Sober’s record of 8, 032 runs.Ironically in the 4next test he was sent bach home as he went to play golg during playing hours.To authorites it was a violation of discipline.
In 1982 Boycott went on a rebel tour of South Africa and was banned for 3 years.The Career of this icon came to an end.
Boycott averaged 47.72 in tests, scoring 22 test hundreds and scoring 8114 runs.In First class Cricket he scored 48, 426 runs at an average of 56.83 scoring 156 Centuries.Boycott exceeded 1000 runs in an English season 23 times and 2, 000 runs 3 times.No batsman has averaged over 100 tuns twice in an English firts class season.Boycott took only 645 inings to score 100 firtsclass Centuries, behind only, Brdamna, Compton and Hutton.
Could Boycott be categorized with the all-time greats?In general the Cricket world has placed him there and statistically atleast in the firstclass game he deserves to be on that pedestal.However often experts and fans have criticized his selfish batting .He would never win matches but could save many a match.Often Boycott, played selfishly, often running out partners.He rarely attacked the bowling and often left the loose ball unpunished, unlike Sunil Gavaskar. He also had a technical weakness against left arm inswing which was exposed by Gary Sobers and to the bouncer.
After retiring he has been a succesful commentator but often outspoken and controversial.He rates Gary Sobers, Viv Richards and Brian Lara as the graetset barsman he has seen and is all praise for Lillee, Akram and Malconm Marshall.
By Harsh Thakor*