Geoffrey Boycott on Parkinson 1977

[@nimmichagger165]

Plain speaking, focused and passionate. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. His team mates were probably jealous, hence the bad feeling. They didn’t understand that cricket was this man’s whole life, which wasn’t the case for some of his very upper middle class team mates. Love and respect to the one of the very best the game has ever seen. Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@vantheman1238]

You’re right they were jealous of Sir Geoffrey. He loved cricket and he loved batting. He loved scoring runs and he made himself the absolute best version of himself on the cricket pitch. Ultimately Boycott got every last ounce and drop of talent and whatever else he had into making himself a great batsman. Final note; Boycott played international cricket across three decades, 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. He played on uncovered wickets and against the best bowlers from all over the world and until 1979 without a helmet. To average slightly under 48 runs per innings as an opening batsman and play the majority of your cricket on green seaming wickets in England that is some achievement. Great player.

[@nimmichagger165]

@@vantheman1238 I couldn’t agree more.

[@Huntl-by9mm]

This man is a giant of Cricket. I read his book and I totally respect him as a person and a Cricketer. Up there with the very best of what Cricket has to offer. Totally unmatched.

[@ashokrajan5275]

Golden words to live by - "i wanted to know how good i was. I could have lived with failure, but could not live with not knowing how good i was going to be". Boycs - much respect! One of the all time greats of the game.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Beautiful quote, thank you for emphasizing it! Awesome!

[@bevwood3694]

Geoffrey boycott has always been my hero. The greatest opening batsman of a generation. Proud to say I have corresponded with him since I was a schoolboy. Much maligned by the press. Many of whom wanted him to fail. Think he's the greatest. Simple as that.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

I agree with you, brother. Being maligned by the press like he was really smacks of jealousy. The whole “too cool to care” set doesn’t get it - cricket commands the kind of excellence Boycott pursued, embodied and encouraged in others. I like what you shared, his books taught me how to really bat! Cheers!

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Wow, this was fantastic! My man! I’m a Yank and Boycott was my only source for proper cricket instruction, he taught me how to bat properly! I’ve always loved his Yorkshire attitude and “single-mindedness”, he valued his wicket like a proper opener should. So awesome to see this interview, fascinating discussion, thanks for uploading! Cheers

[@markhayward7400]

As a teenager, attending a Kent v Yorkshire, B&H fixture at Beckenham 40+ years ago i was one of a number of schoolboys lined up by Boycott on the outfield before the match to bowl at him and give him some batting practice. He clearly wasnt on speaking terms that day with his teammates and practiced apart from them. I bowled him a left armer's leg break that bounced twice before going under Boycott's bat and hitting off stump. There were loud hoots of derision from several Yorkshire players who had seen this and my reward was to be banished from those bowling at him! I admired Boycott's batting then and still do. He was/is the best self made opening bat in cricket's history. He was brave too. No-one who watched him facing the WIndies bowlers in '80-1 at the tail end of his test match career could possibly think otherwise

[@markmeade2937]

As an opening Batsman his job is to see through the opening attack and make those vital runs at the start of the innings . This requires full concentration, self will and control . You can see this in the way he talks and his demeanour. Whatever you may think for me one of the most outstanding sportsman with balls of steel . Skill and courage got him to the top , he did things his way like Ian Botham did …..

[@briangraveling1542]

My boyhood hero, if the great man batted for 5 days I would sit and watch him. I still think the ECB missed a trick by not utilising him as a coach

[@jbosco3970]

No - he is a great commentator. Not a coach.

[@wespaul9345]

You make a good point. He's very incisive. I particularly enjoy the ESPN interviews on fast bowlers. His knowledge of the game is second to none.

[@zodiac6968]

Absolute champion, total respect from Down Under.

[@neilcarpenter2669]

I wish more English sportsmen had his dedication to attaining excellence.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

You’re surely not alone😂

[@tomben6180]

Proper northern bloke. The true grit of a northern Englishman

[@nicknewsum1068]

My hero then and still my hero today. Love the Man. The wisest Man in Cricket. Brave and Brilliant. Always loyal to his loyal fans of which there are million. Ok not everyone's cup of tea but I adore him

[@vantheman1238]

To have that man’s single mindedness and courage to be the best over three decades playing cricket is remarkable. What Boycott had and has is a superpower.

[@andymoores2090]

Ultimate professional, players were jealous of him because they couldn't dedicate themselves to their job in hand and he could. Arise Sir Geoffrey.

[@Rhubba]

Also the best and fairest of game analysts.

[@PaulMann8666]

Brilliant man.

[@Dino-gj9oq]

I love this man. Great great cricketer

[@frankford1115]

Proper professional, proper attitude. English cricket could do with half his attitude.

[@chriswatson7965]

I admire Geoff Boycott for his commitment and dedication. He had only a moderate natural talent and got the world record for the most number of test runs through the intensity of commitment. In short, he was as good a cricketer as he could be, and you can't ask for more.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Aye, laddie, not even a wee bit more😉

[@nicksmith3245]

He'd walk into the current England team - even using a stick of rhubarb - and I do miss his forthright opinions in the commentary box.

[@121music4life]

Not woke enough and politically correct for the BBC

[@IanNottingham-r9w]

Parky interviewing GB almost as if he doesn't know him, they were team mates at Barnsley CC, Parky opened the batting with Dickie Bird and then came a young upstart called Geoffrey Boycott. We always said if you needed somebody to bat all day to save your life who would you give the bat to?

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Steve Waugh

[@robertbolder5319]

A fascinating and complex man.

[@davephillips1874]

Great batsman commentator and top man

[@ajs41]

He was batting against the West Indies nearly 5 years after this.

[@nicknewsum1068]

Certainly was age 41 and still got hundreds even against Holding after that over

[@Inglese001]

@@nicknewsum1068@Andrew JS and Tony Greig said that he was scared of fast bowling!! Guy's a legend

[@nicknewsum1068]

@@Inglese001 yes it was utter rubbish he proved his bravery and skill countless times against the fastest

[@gavingray5275]

Thank you for putting this up Sir, i dont remember this. 2 men who found their true calling, each a master of their art.

[@FelixRigg]

Could England have a few more ‘selfish’ batsmen, please? I’ve always admired Sir G’s professionalism, determination and sheer guts.

[@rodmitchell8576]

I never found his batting to be boring. His technique was entertaining particularly as he faced the best fast bowlers in the history of the game.

[@robmadill9267]

Boozing and Wenching. Beautiful Yorkshire terms. Two of my heroes. God bless them.

[@AngusRobins]

Absolute legend! ❤

[@jimmyodriscoll9273]

11 comments come on ENGLAND he is a legend in CRICKET.🏏😁

[@rtaj247]

Loved ❤ Boycs !

[@yingyang1008]

Key word: Grammar School He would never have made it going to a comprehensive

[@Inglese001]

Honestly, amazed that England have enough players to put a team together. Cricket's been dying in England for years

[@colinbrown7310]

Great man! Speaks a bit like another great man - Cloughie.

[@richardjames3356]

They became friends around the time Clough took on the Leeds job. Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall listening to those two putting the world to rights!

[@mattgarbutt254]

Strange how a lot of men just looked older for their age in those days… Parkinson is 42 here, and Boycott’s 36!

[@shawshank178]

Indeed!

[@darrensmith5771]

Haircuts😊

[@davidpollard4051]

For most of his playing career I think he had a lot of difficulty relating to his teammates just as they had a lot of difficulty understanding him. Was he too self-obsessed, only focusing on himself or was he so determined that this brought him the undoubted success that he had ? No doubt he fell out with an awful lot of people of the years and it can't all have been a coincidence. - but you'd want him opening the innings against a top Test team. Wish there was more footage of his batting in 67/8 v West Indies and 70/71 v Australia.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

I like to think that his attitude, if that’s what we call it, embodies the proper opener’s spirit… You have to be tough and single-minded. He made me want to open and I faced some of the fastest bowlers in my country… and got hit. Multiple times. It’s not easy and requires a lot of raw courage. Boycott showed me this is what to love in cricket, and I surely do. 💪🏏

[@lewisgreen2957]

Fantastic batsman, an all time great. He faced up to some of the greatest bowlers with very little bodily protection or helmets. Very similar to Gavaskar although Sunny I think was just that bit better..

[@rtms9092]

Sunny was way better

[@MichaelJordan-yy1sr]

Better but not way better

[@seamusweber8298]

Boycott did not make himself available to play, between 1974-76. He avoided the WIs and the Aussie, fast bowlers. Boycott was a great player but he didn't face the world strongest teams between 74-76.

[@stephenmcloughlin7718]

Not sure Sunny was better. Two great openers.

[@NPA1001]

The debate over Boycott the player will always be whether you believed if he played for the team or his own place in the record books.

[@paulframe85]

Decent top order for Barnsley CC on film

[@yasirsennahai4768]

He once got a hundred against Australia and someone said that his hundred was a lucky hundred. Boycott replied, "funny that, the harder I practice, the luckier I get.

[@aliofly]

Quoting Gary Player?

[@kevinbeck6785]

Sir Geoffrey Boycott the Master

[@14nst3w4rt]

not many know that Parkinson kept Boycott out of their village cricket team

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Holy crap, now that’s a share! Thanks!

[@tryarunm]

Sutcliffe, Hutton, Boycott. England's finest openers.

[@aliofly]

Gooch? Cook?

[@DennisNowland]

Those were the days before Boycott dropped his Hs

[@dlamiss]

Was he also interviewed the following year by Parkinson following his sacking as captain at Yorkshire

[@traceya9615]

Yes, he was. It was a big story at the time. I watched it as a kid.

[@dinerouk]

@@traceya9615 And interviewed aged 80 here by Nigel Farage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHa5fauMeducps0

[@okboomer8798]

Articulate gentleman.

[@Battismore-Blue]

Never seemed to me to be one of the lads

[@stephenreeds3632]

Parkinson kept on picking at the same topic....cutting himself off etc.

[@johnmifsud6814]

Did Boycottt have a hair transplant / if so it must have been one of the earliest - beat Elton John

[@captpicard6894]

If the wimpy, wishy-washy, pathetic, woke mob of so called “Batsmen” (Joe Root excluded) we have now in the England team had more of Sir Geoffrey’s application, dedication, and single-mindedness we might actually have a chance of regaining the Ashes this Winter.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Nice. Root has the fire and the class batting👌

[@Marius_vanderLubbe]

Not one mention that I can see of his violent attack and conviction for assaulting a woman. What a disgrace.

[@bobbyhanly3466]

Wouldn't be very suitable, would it? No more than you would want that violent attack on a sheep in June 1995 to be mentioned at Christmas Dinner.

[@Marius_vanderLubbe]

@@bobbyhanly3466 You're typing in anagrams, bobby. Have the courage to project your beliefs succinctly.

[@PaulCarew-j9j]

Assaulted because a French court said so without him having a defence of any decent sort and the whole case being in French with him not knowing what was being said. You should read the facts of that case. One such fact being that she mentioned him doing something and on the date mentioned, he wasn't even in the country.

[@Marius_vanderLubbe]

@@PaulCarew-j9j I'm unclear as to what the detriment of having a French court of justice find him guilty is?

[@PaulCarew-j9j]

Marius van der Lubbe Because he had no idea what was being said and his own lawyer was not able to make it clear to him. The whole thing was a farce, 'level playing field' and all that.

[@amiyshrivastava4088]

Geoffrey Boycott looks like a young Donald Trump here.

[@RogerJJSmith]

He's almost like a cross between a young Donald Trump and Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

[@tomthomas9708]

Not a team player.

[@kenjones6441]

Ha, what an idiot. As part of a cricket team would you prefer a batsman to score 6 or a selfish batsman scoring 100. Who helps the team more?