Birthday special: Geoffrey Boycott – Top 3 performances in international cricket
Former England opening batter Geoffrey Boycott is one of the most revered sporting personalities from England. Boycott, a leader of men, was renowned for his incredible willpower and defiance at the crease. The Yorkshireman played a total of 108 Tests for the English side, amassing 8114 runs at a handsome average of 47.72. A man of few words during his career, Boycott is bullish with his remarks after donning the role of a commentator and a pundit after retiring from the game. On the eve of his 82nd birthday, we list some of his most remarkable innings for England.
142* against Australia, 1971
England traveled to Sydney for the fourth Test match of a prolonged seven-match Test series against Australia. The series was at level pegging after both teams failed to head home the advantage in the first three matches. England batted first after winning the toss and posted a decent tally of 332 runs on the board on the back of Boycott’s fluent 77. The hosts, in reply, surrendered on the score of 236 runs. England smelled victory for the first time in the series and Boycott registered a tremendous unbeaten 142 in the third innings while wickets kept falling at the other end.
191 against Australia, Leeds, 1977
England invited arch-rivals Australia to Leeds after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match Test series. Anything else than an Aussie victory would have meant another Ashesh triumph for the hosts. England batted first in the decisive match and lost skipper Mike Brearley for a three-ball duck. But Geoff Boycott dug in from the other end, compiling a sensational innings before falling just nine short of a glittering double century. His innings guided the home side to a massive 436 runs in the first innings as the host eventually won the match by an innings and 85 runs after enforcing the follow-on.
246 against India, 1967
India were on the receiving end of a Geoff Boycott masterclass in the first Test match of the series at Headingly in 1967 as the indomitable English opener bludgeoned the Indian attack with utter disdain. Boycott compiled a career-best 246 helping England to a mammoth total of 550 runs in the first innings. The Indians surrendered meekly in the second innings on a paltry score of 164 runs. The hosts enforced the follow-on with the visiting side showing incredible resilience and posting a handsome 510 runs only to lose the match by six wickets.
