Ian Chappell humiliates Geoffrey Boycott

Ian calls Boycott a selfish player.lol

[@CricketInsights]

I was impressed how Chappell could talk without moving his mouth....

[@kashis3357]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Bernie8330]

Especially when speaking complete facts.

[@kunalsingh3121]

@@Bernie8330 Utter nonsense...Love Chappeli though as a player and broadcaster but his biases against Boycott, Botham and Steve Waugh are tough to digest

[@Hussainesque]

😂

[@bigphil2053]

Well he does talk out of his arse

[@craigrobinson4953]

Ian Chappell was probably our greatest test captain. However the people I speak to here in Australia including myself regard Geoff Boycott as one of the great test openers. Players such as our own Bill Lawry and Mark Taylor along with Boycott were not noted as fast scorers but their role was to bat all day to hold up one end, put the bad balls away for four and rotate the strike. I would love to have a Geoff Boycott style batsman opening the batting for Australia to bat through many sessions. Boycott had a great temperament and shot selection, showed a lot of courage batting without a helmet for most of his career and remained loyal to Yorkshire and England. He should always be remembered for these great attributes he had. I also enjoy Boycott's commentating which he has such great knowledge he shares with his audience. Hope you are doing well Geoffrey after your heart surgery last year.

[@sophieewohaa]

Boycott averaged nearly 50 as an opener for England, playing two thirds of his matches against West Indies or Australia.

[@Nicholas.610]

don't forget he was a pedophile too.

[@classicalmusic1175]

Complete hogwash from Chappell, and even a spot of jealously. Was Geoffrey Boycott a box office draw like Sir Viv Richards? No, clearly not. He was a defensive player and a grafter who almost never give his wicket away cheaply. When he was set he was one of the hardest players in the world to dismiss, and his wicket was always the prized wicket for every bowler he played against. If the opposition dismissed Boycott early England likely lost, but if they didn't dismiss him, the opposition had a problem. That's how important he was to England. He had concentration that was virtually unmatched. He worked damn hard at his cricket and achieved a hell of a lot for a man who wasn't naturally gifted at his craft. He ended his test career at the age of 42 years, with a highly respectable batting average of almost 48, and remember, he did so while opening the batting against the new ball and against all the top bowlers the game had to offer at the time. He batted against Lillee & Thompson, all the great West Indians, Hadlee, Imran Khan, etc. Geoff Boycott was a fine player and only a complete idiot would suggest otherwise

[@ianbentley7276]

great post

[@rupaliranidas842]

Absolutely true @Classical Music11; Chappell's just jealous. I mean, Boycs has 46,000+ first-class runs, and 151 first-class centuries playing for the Yorkshire CCC! How could anyone say he wasn’t great. In addition to that, he got all of those runs in the testing conditions and the uncovered pitches of the UK with all the bowlers you've mentioned trying to get him out.

[@jugheadsrule]

Absolute bullshit. Boycott missed from 74-77 because he had a hissy fit over captaincy. Never faced Lillian Thomson at their peak. A selfish boring batsman who only a pommie could love.

[@rupaliranidas842]

@@jugheadsrule , Boycott left the national side to focus in county cricket. Plus, he may not have faced Lillee in his peak, but has faced the likes of Marshall, Holding, and the rest. One really has to admire his grit, for he never gave his wicket cheaply, not that he was selfish.

[@rupaliranidas842]

@@jugheadsrule I’m not a pommie, by the way.

[@welshfinn1]

Boycott was an opener who had the responsibility of putting England into positions were they couldn't lose and were likely to win. He averages well over 50 in wins and draws, and in the low 20s when England lost. I.e, when he failed, England lost. He didn't fail very often, btw. He was a great opener, one who eschewed his natural game for the team (he could play all the shots in the world in the nets, and hit ODI hundreds).

[@truthoutmedia]

Chapell Test Average : 42:42 Boycott Test Average: 47.72 He may have sent people to sleep, but Boycs stuck around when others around him fell down. This steel determination is what sets Boycott apart from people like Chapell; both class players, but look at the averages.

[@briansukhu4392]

It is a team not and individual sport. Boycott was dropped for scoring too slow and Botham ran him out for scoring too slow.

[@user-yi5mt2df5q]

If Ian was more selfish, then his average would've been better. I don't hate Boycott, he is one of the best openers. But, he was in the game for himself.

[@briansukhu4392]

Which Chappell are you referring to, Ian was as tough as nails and Greg had steel behind his exquisite stroke play. Boycott will claim he played for the team, he did play for the team but his personal ambitions out weighted his team ethic. Did Boycott stick around during the mid 70's when Lillee Thompson, Roberts Holding were destroying the team. He wasn't patriotic enough to play under Mike Denness. There are other criteria to assess a batsman than averages. Steven Smith has a great average but he never faced the attacks Border and Waugh faced. Ian Botham would have been greater if he was more selfish. He was selfish alright, he didn't train and eat properly nor practice much. If he adopted a more professional approach he would have been much greater than he was.

[@rsaisourabh4938]

Lol 5 runs

[@truthoutmedia]

@@rsaisourabh4938 it's an average ya plonker 5 runs is a lot

[@dukeofoven]

Geoffrey Boycott may have batted for himself but often he was the only member of the England top order with the technique & mental strength to build a big innings under pressure. There have been plenty of occasions in recent years when England could have done with someone like him - Ashes 06/07 springs to mind. Check out most bowlers reaction to getting his wicket. - They knew how valuable he was to the team.

[@stephenhosking7384]

I well recall a test in the late 70s (?) where Australia was on top, and England had to bat out the final day for a draw. Boycott opened. During the day wickets fell regularly, and England lost in the last hour (as I recall). Boycott carried his bat. All England needed was one other player to do half as well as Boycott and they would have saved the game. I felt very sorry for Boycott that day. How frustrating for him to end up in a losing test team, in that way. The job of an opening batsmen is to last to lunch, at least, on the first day and blunt the attack for the strokemakers to cash in later in the day.

[@2sridhark]

About Boycott, i remember reading somewhere that he made the slowest century and another channel showed a Pope's funeral and some commentator said the funeral was more interesting than Boycott's century! However, it is also a fact that the matches where Boycott made centuries were usually won. Of Geoffrey Boycott’s 151 centuries, only 12 were in a losing cause. Fifty-three were in a winning cause. Boycott made 22 Test centuries and England lost none of the games in which he made those. Now, those are facts. I liked Ian Chappel's batting better any day though.

[@Bernie8330]

Only 10 of the 22 were in wins. 2 of his final 8 after his comeback. Boycott making a big score drastically increased the chances of a dull mundane draw.

[@eric5bellies]

Boycott is entally stronger than Ian Chappell could ever wish to be. Granted sometimes that boiled over into selfishness, but Boycott's record speaks for itself. He frustrated the shit out of over hyped attacks with his mental superiority. The one misconception about Boycott is his lack of shots. He grew up on Yorkshire wickets with no rain covers. The ball was very unpredictable. He adapted his technique for this. He played the shots when he needed to. The one thing I admire about Boycott is the simplicity of which he both played and commentates about the game. He calls it as he sees it, and most of the time we are all thinking the same thing.

[@mohanlal-tw5lp]

how badly we wish we had a Boycott to partner Virender Sehwag in the 2000s along with Dravid,Sachin,Ganguly & Laxman to follow...!!!!!!!!!!!

[@metalman7806]

Ian Chappell could never humiliate Geoff Boycott

[@Yardracing]

If Boycott didn't bother Chappell why did he spend half the interview going on about him. Love him or hate him, Boycott bothered all opposing captains he was the big wicket.

[@gareththomas4335]

Of all the players to score 20,000 runs in first class cricket, barring Bradman, nobody has a higher average than Geoff Boycott. I don't know about anyone else, but if your second behind Bradman, you seem pretty great to me. I mean, the man did hold the record for the most runs scored in tests. He scored 22 test tons, and England never lost a test in which he did, if Geoff Boycott isn't a great player, then precious few are. Plus an average of 47 for an opener is pretty great, especially in an era against amazing bowlers first up. Gordon Greenidge averages 44.

[@joe-cc7wm]

Beautifully put, it's hard to argue with those sort of stats. The fact that Greenidge has an inferior record to Boycott is evidence that he was a great player, plus Greenidge didn't have to face Marshall and the rest. Greenidge was a great, and so is Geoff.

[@gravedanger567]

Joseph Williams Boycott was a fine player no doubt. A player with that record cannot be ignored. But Chappell has a point, Boycott could be pedestrian with his scoring rate. And while Boycott may have a better Test average than Greenidge, the West Indian was by far the more entertaining of the 2 to watch.

[@joe-cc7wm]

Sid Vicious I'm not disputing that he could be score slowly, and maybe sometimes be selfish, but that doesn't stop him being a great player. I'm not saying Greenidge isn't great, he is, but Chappell's point is that Boycott wasn't, I'm saying those numbers prove beyond doubt that he is, so to that effect, Chappell doesn't have a point.

[@gravedanger567]

Joseph Williams First let me say I'm an Aussie and didn't see a lot of Boycott. I saw him on 2 tours of Australia in the 1970's, both at Adelaide Oval. Your point is valid, he has the runs on the board to be regarded as great. I wouldn't be concerned about the comments of Ian Chappell, he enjoys needling Englishmen. I get the feeling he and Boycott aren't great mates.

[@joe-cc7wm]

Sid Vicious Yeah you're right, I feel Chappell has an agenda, and it irritated me how unfair his statement was.

[@truthoutmedia]

Regardless and without prejudice, here are the batting averages for both players: (in test cricket) Chapell: Matches 75 Batting average: 42.42 Top score: 196 Boycott: Matches: 108 Batting Average: 47.72 Top score: 246 NOT OUT He may have sent people to sleep, but he was one of the greatest batsmen of his generation.

[@phoarey]

He preferred Slater to Hayden too. Boycott’s 48 at the top of the order against the bowlers of his era, small bats, large boundaries and when test batting averages were about 5 or more lower than the modern era sounds great to me.

[@sugarnads]

Hayden was a flat track bully. Slater was a far better batsman.

[@Bernie8330]

@@sugarnads Absolutely.

[@5eurocups2005]

They say Boycott was boring to watch, its wasn't his fault that they couldn't get him out.

[@onenarrowdoor]

Boycott changed many a game - by not getting out. How many times throughout the 80's, 90's and early 00's were England crying out for somebody solid to drop anchor? So many tests were over in three days because everybody wanted to be Ian Botham. Only Graham Gooch had the balance between sound defence and controlled aggression - and the Aussies hated him for it when he worked out how to play Shane Warne.

[@TheJonkerr7]

When did that happen?

[@n.w.owhoknowstheshadowknow58]

Yeah when did that happen

[@AngelicusImmortus]

onenarrowdoor wrong on all counts

[@AngelicusImmortus]

onenarrowdoor Obviously you remember that they brought Mike Gatting back into the squad because of Warne and he got out to one of the best deliveries in cricket history. The legend of Spin bowling is Murali, just look up the figures

[@Bernie8330]

Yes, Boycott changed games from potentially exciting result tests into boring dull mundane draws - he did this on many occasions, that is so true.

[@Cricketing_Nostalgia]

Geoffrey Boycott was a great batsman in my humble opinion. A textbook on batting technique. Ian Chappell I guess might have had a couple of drinks than usual. But the cricketing world cherishes both these characters.

[@Gkc842]

The only reason to have Boycott in the team if the rest of the batsmen are rubbish

[@bobdrooples]

​@@Gkc842or if any Aussies got suspended for cheating.

[@Gkc842]

@@bobdrooples I was listening to the commentary when Boycott opened the innings with Tavare. Don’t remember who the other team was. It was boring for hours. One wished that at least one batter got out!

[@Bernie8330]

@@Gkc842 England were a comfortably better side than Australia out here in 1970-71 both on paper and on the field. However, England dominated the first five tests, and yet were only leading 1-0 when it should have been 4-0. The reason for this was that their leading run scorers were Boycott and Edrich, both snails. Boycott was not a high impact player in test cricket by any stretch of the imagination.

[@truthoutmedia]

Agreed, but I cant downgrade him from 'great' to 'good' in spite of his failings, he was one of the greatest batsmen, surely

[@kingcurry6594]

Well, at least Geoff Boycott was the best player in his family, unlike Ian Chappell. In Boycott's 108 tests, England only lost 20, and nearly all those losses were when he got out cheaply. He knew if he failed, the team were likely to lose. That's why he played as he did: not selfishly, but for the team.

[@tryarunm]

Ian is entitled to his opinion. After all, this is not Saudi fucking Arabia. Boycott remains one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time, and his understanding of the finer points of batting is keener than that of any commentator I have ever heard, including Greig and Benaud.

[@cquilty1]

+tryarunm Chappell referring to Boycott as a selfish batsman who played only for himself is not opinion, but fact. And this utter lack of altruism is not the stance of "one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time." But you are correct on Boycott's insight re batting and on the game in general. He knows his cricket inside out.

[@terrya8989]

Geoff Boycott and Bill Lawry were the exact same type of batsmen and Chappell would never ever slag off his friend Lawry like that....hypocrite.

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

Ian Chappell had the same scoring rate as Bill and Geoff

[@johnhanson5943]

I watched both Boycott and the Chappells play at the Wanderer’s Cricket Ground (Jo’burg) as a boy. The Chappells were brilliantly spectacular and willing to sign autographs / friendly. Boycott was the opposite. However, as my Dad himself was a Yorkshireman, so I understood his mentality. He wasn’t interesting to watch or at all like-able - but he tried to wear down an attack (his job). He was very good at it. Completely dedicated to his role. So, a professional of the highest order. Made for Test Cricket. His averages don’t look bad, even today. He loved his cricket and so do we. Surely, he annoyed some Aussies now and again - and that’s a good thing after their shenanigans. Watched some of their infamous sandpaper tour in SA - and they had it coming to them. Their sledging became very nasty, as well. PS Ripping Yarns with Michael Palin did Yorkshiremen best with Eric Brelthtwaite. Or similar name. Check it on KZbin. It’s a belter.

[@Bluepillphil-d1w]

Im the real life Eric Brelthtwaite.

[@rjgriffiths26]

@41691Rick - how can you call Boycott an asshole? Have you ever met the guy? He's a top bloke and has overcome a great deal of adversity in his life, which I think speaks volumes about his strength of character and love for living.

[@FXISM1]

Boycott WAS a great player, he knew his stuff, BUT... Just as Chappell says, he was a boring and selfish bastard who didn't care about anything else. Everything he says is backed up by others. Does that make Boycott any less of a player though? Of course not.

[@FunAllDayLong4353]

I was lucky enough to see both Boycott and Chappell in the 1972 Ashes Test at Old Trafford. I remember Dennis Lillee running in almost off the boundary rope. I remember Boycott hooking him at least twice for flashing fours in what was a rain affected very low scoring game. I don't remember Ian Chappell.

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

I remember 1970 71 in Australia - John Snow versus Ian Chappell aka scared rabbit in the headlights

[@FunAllDayLong4353]

@@StephenStafford-r2y TBF There were a lot of those before helmets!

[@briankeniry219]

It's true. I can recall watching Boycott bat in 'partnership' with David Gower, Gower was going well boycott was the usual. And then I noticed that it would come to the 6th ball of the over and GB would push a single and the the same happened the next over and the next. After a while it was 40 minutes since Gower had faced a ball , then when he did eventually face one he got out all down to Boycott staving him of strike. And of course the story of Botham being sent out to bat with instructions to purposely run out GB for batting too slowly is true.

[@davec8730]

Brian Keniry IF any captain sent beefy on to run boycott out, it would have to be brearley, i very much doubt brearley wanting to lose another opener, as his wicket would have gone on the first 4 overs for next to f-all again.

[@nicholasthornley9708]

dave c Bob Willis told Botham to run Boycott out., I think it was against New Zealand !977/78? Boycott was the captain.

[@davec8730]

NICHOLAS THORNLEY yeah! cos willis was the best captain england ever ha...ooops! hold on.

[@stevendavies417]

Geoffrey Boycott was a great player, a scholar of the game and one of the finest players this country has produced. It's a typically cheap shot from Chappell.

[@briansukhu4392]

It is not a cheap shot it is a fact. Boycott batted for himself and his average not for the team. He was so selfish Ian Bothan ran him out in a test match, he was dropped for scoring too slowly. He was so selfish he decided not to play for his country during the mid 70's when Lillee/Thompson Roberts/Holding were wrecking the English batting line up because he didn't rate and like Mike Denness. Where was his patriotism during those years when we needed a player of his ilk?

[@paddy722]

Boycott averaged nearly 50 as an opener. That speaks for itself.

[@robbignell1629]

47 average against some of the greatest fast bowlers ever! Geoff has also scored 100 before lunch! England would love to have someone with his class and determination at the top of the order! Ian Chappell is not a thinking commentator!

[@markbeale6212]

boycott faced all the music...the fastest and most devasting fast bowlers...ever...and he is a great commentator. honest and straight down the fooking line

[@Bernie8330]

Not between 1974 and 1976 he didn't.

[@robinmarples574]

If Viv Richards Sobers and Pollock had opened the batting every test they would have done well to average 47

[@barrybeave]

Rubbish

[@jahno7154]

@@barrybeave That's not rubbish 47 for a opener is a damn good effort.

[@Bernie8330]

They actually virtually did on more than a few occasions ... Pollock and Richards at least ... you see Viv batted at 3 in his prime, and Graeme at 4, and they were relatively often in at 1 or 2 down for sweet bugger all. That is a complete dud argument you're sprouting there.

[@aranyaism]

Lol don’t compare boyflop to viv Richards😂😂😂😂

[@Bernie8330]

@@aranyaism No that's right. Any fool who does isn't taking any account of their respective scoring speeds.

[@oshawaxpress]

Most great cricketers are 'selfish'. None more so, by all accounts, than Bradman, who was the greatest run-getter of them all. The first rule of batting is that you can't score runs if you don't occupy the crease. Boycott never gave his wicket away, he blunted bowling attacks by his doggedness and determination. As an opening batsman, that was his job, and he did it very well.

[@Bernie8330]

And caused many games to become dull mundane draws. He was not a high level impact batsman who could take a game by the scruff of the neck, which is what great batsman do. Boycott was nothing more than accomplished.

[@philipmarcelline2260]

Ian and his brothers were the epitome of everything rotten about Australian cricket.

[@hez5354]

What did they do wrong other than the under arm incident

[@user-jc4ms9rl4q]

@@hez5354.. Ian even slagged his own countrymen : bradman,,that’s unbelievable!!!

[@dnarmstr]

Yes, as demonstrated by the clip that we're commenting on Chappelli is evidently very jealous of the way Boycott played the game.

[@has9]

i really love harsha and his comments

[@mattinterweb]

By that logic he should have Ian Botham as one of his most admired players.

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

Botham didn't cop his crap so Ian Chappell disparages Sir Ian - when he isn't running away from him.

[@surajssubramanian7327]

Boycott was a class opening batsman. Cook is of a similar mould

[@Gkc842]

Apparently you did not live through his batting. He could have been replaced by a sofa

[@mizofan]

I enjoy Boycott's commentaries on great bowlers on youtube, as with Chappell his honest opinions are interesting but yes he was selfish. Good to have in your team when playing for a draw, but too often he played slowly when the team needed quicker runs. Players who can take bowling attacks apart- in Boycott's time, Richards, Lloyd, Sobers, Majid among others...are also much more entertaining and cricket is an entertainment for spectators as well as a matter of winning or personal glory.

[@MichaelBurke-z9x]

Chappell never forgave Boycott for hammering his attack in the 70/71 ashes.

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

And the hit job John Snow did on the Chappells.

[@dynamite1976]

Crazy talk! Boycott was a fantastic player... would walk in to any current test side! Chappell is talking rubbish! You can't compare Sobers and Boycott.... Sobers was a great batsman but batted lower down the order away from the new ball...... I'm not saying this against Sobers as he is a true legend... but you cant use Sobers to say Boycott was not a great player it makes no sense.

[@auntyl6549]

it makes sense if your an arrogant jealous ex cricketer who was not as successful as a cricketer as boycs and botham, nor as successful as either of them as they are as ex cricketers in careers.

[@waratahdavid696]

Eh, no, not any team. Some of us like a bit more tempo, sharimg strike, kind of players.

[@bhagyeshkulkarni9259]

I agree mate.

[@RogerJJSmith]

Viv Richards had a surprisingly low Test average (50.23) for a "great" player... and he never had to face the West Indies' pace attack. Boycott's average of 47.72 was achieved as an opener, not at no. 4, and more than half of his Tests were played on less batting-friendly English pitches. Statistics aren't everything.

[@lewisgreen2957]

Bishan Bedi once said india had Viv out 4 times during a Test in the Caribbean before he finally went. Umpires were kind to Viv. Great player but..

[@firdausHITMAN]

The video pictures to this would be great. Hope someone uploads it. Thank you.

[@Imrankniazi]

Good to know that someone else knows the truth as well. Respect for Fiery!

[@zibtihaj3213]

true...but I think every team need a Boycott simply cause he could tie up one end with his near perfect technique

[@Tukann]

thank u so much for your help! UR such a lovely person for helping out with that

[@brian-southampton]

When Thomson and Lillee were at their best Boycott refused to play for England for three years. The great Jim Laker was asked if he should be brought back into the fold when England were later struggling. He said “don’t talk to me about Geoffrey Boycott, the man should never play for England again after refusing to play for his country”. This period is conveniently forgotten about by the Boycott lovers.

[@boxingjerapah]

I doubt he lost sleep over you, either Ian. You weren't even the best batsman in your family.

[@cquilty1]

+boxingjeraph That's not the point. What Chappell says about Boycott is 100% true and that's what upsets you.

[@Bernie8330]

@@cquilty1 Also, at almost all times in his career, Ian Chappell was the 2nd or 3rd best batsman in his own country, and well inside the top 10 in the world ... most times also a better batsman than Boycott.

[@cquilty1]

@@Bernie8330 I wouldn't mind a test batting average of 42.42 after 75 games.

[@Bernie8330]

@@cquilty1 I would have settled for an average of 42 in junior cricket in my home town in the bush.

[@louisnel5929]

@@Bernie8330 that's not the point - he compares Sober mid-order batsmen with Boycott who was an opener & for an opener 47 is a pretty good average

[@scannersinfrance]

Quite agree - he is good to listen to, as is Jim Maxwell.

[@ockeghem35]

anyone who calls this game 'stupid and boring' falls into the trap of revealing more about themselves than about what they are attempting to talk about!

[@garrington120]

You quite obviously have no idea what the fuck you are talking about . Many times Boycott was forced into grinding out an innings to save England's embarrassment of a potential low total . His value to English cricket is immeasurable. On top of this he is a far better and knowledgeable commentator on the great game than Chappell I will ever be

[@aranyaism]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@hyena131]

Never been there old chap, though I once had a great-uncle in Canberra who I now think is dead. Wilf was his name. Mike Proctor one of my cricketing favourites. A truly great player. Am I now South African.....?

[@YD-uq5fi]

Ian Chappell doesn't know that Boycott is also Botham's enemy, so Ian Chappell should be siding with Boycott against Botham..

[@jahno7154]

Boycott and Botham are not enemies ! where did you get that rubbish info from?

[@YD-uq5fi]

@@jahno7154 You obviously know nothing about cricket.

[@jahno7154]

@@YD-uq5fi Because you think Botham doesn't like Boycott means i know nothing about cricket? How dumb are you. Stick to watching T20 or better still Kabaddi

[@arshupadhyaya]

@@jahno7154 both am was the reason boycott got kicked out of the team, search Ian botham saying bye bye boycott on youtube, also he once purposefully run him out so he definitely hated him

[@Imrankniazi]

Chappell is against anything that smells 'Pom'! Boycott was the biggest thorn in the Aussie flesh throughout his career. Ask Chappell why Australia lost the 1970-71 home Ashes to Illingworth's English team. Boycott (runs) and Snow (wickets) just broke their backs.

[@Bernie8330]

(cont from above) Even his oneday SR (not sure what his average is) is only about 68 and hes played in an era where great oneday bats strike at more than 80 runs/100 balls, some even close to or beyond 100.

[@truthoutmedia]

@cheeseballs987 I see what you are saying but Chapell is talking about Boycotts batting, and I know who I would rather have in to save the match

[@arnabsinha5408]

Boycott didn't keep him awake at night. Then why is Chapell spending so many words on him? Looks like someone didn't have a good nights sleep.

[@Kyranoboss]

Yes you're right. He's only a knight in Yorkshire, where he is known as Sir Geoffrey, but no where else.

[@darkmossie633]

Ian Chappell is now a very good media man and co-commentator, but lets himself down here -big time Many thanks for your support Imran I think most cricket nations would like to have a "Boycott" opening the batting in this modern era -do wish we had another "Snowy" now! I look forward to Pakistan v Australia test matches to be played in England i think Pakistan have too much talent for them?-if they play as team!

[@s4123833]

really, I have lived in England for a year and i had a great time. I am actually entitled to a brittish passport on account of my father being born there. I have quite a bit of family there but i would never ever dream of living my life there. Australia is in my opinion and i reckon in the opinion of 95% of the people that live here, the greatest country on earth.

[@user-yi5mt2df5q]

Agreed mate.

[@Bluepillphil-d1w]

No. The fact Boycott had a slow run rate was the great thing about him. All class.

[@Imrankniazi]

Wrong. I am an Indian and respect Boycott more than any batsman of his generation. He was one bloke who could stand up against Lillee, Hall, Griffith, McKenzie, Bedi, Chandrashekhar and score runs against them all. Much better than 'Chappelli' in my opinion.

[@garrington120]

The only person humiliated by this is Chappel himself

[@earendilthebright5402]

why? for giving an opinion?

[@BumbleBrook]

I Think Ian Chappell is one of the Best Commentators of ALL Time. He Tells You exactly what He Thinks. And Hes always Right.

[@harryrambler]

Chappell needs to throw away his handbag, along with the pinny worn by Boycott's mum!

[@atthebridge]

So he wasn't as good as Sobers. That's what I call a major slight. The problem I have with this sort of stuff from IC (whom I otherwise like as a pundit) is that he reserves the right to slag off the Aussies when they get bowled out for peanuts slashing at everything outside off. The truth is on a flat pitch at Adelaide you want quick runs, on an overcast morning at Trentbridge you take any runs you can get.

[@2sridhark]

Ian Chappell is a great batsman. I remember seeing him make a century against India at Kotla grounds, New Delhi in 1969 (i think) when I was just 5 or 6 years of age. I went to see the first day of test cricket there when Bill Lowry's team was visiting India. A great knock it was.

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

went on to South Africa and scored 92 runs in 8 completed innings at an average of under 12

[@Bernie8330]

Yeah sure Colonel, JK had his very good days with the ball and theres no doubt he was easily the best 5th bowler in 1dayers of his time, and a genuine test match quality strike bowler rather than just a mere handy change bowler. I just think South Africas inability to match Australia (bar last home season) has been partly because their best batsman has been JK no disrespect, any lineup that had him as their 5th or 6th best bat would be an extremely powerful one!

[@rjgriffiths26]

Can see why Botham banged him out - guy sure does like the sound of his voice

[@Bernie8330]

I don't know of any commentator anywhere around the world who gets more pompous on air when his country are on top than Botham.

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

Thank you Ian Botham

[@roadhunter99]

he did say BASTARD, i repeat He did say BASTARD.

[@Baskerville22]

Let's get to the real issue. Who was the greater cricketer - I. Chappell or Boycott ? No contest. He may have been "boring", but Boycott was one of the greats: I. Chappell wasn't.

[@Bernie8330]

I've always thought Jacques Kallis is an overrated batsman for the same reason. He might average mid 50's but he only strikes at about 38 runs/100 balls. Ponting, Tendulkar and Lara average just as many but score them at least 50% faster - Pontings strike rate is about 59, Tendulkars about 56 and Laras was over 60. I would say Kallis has been a very good batsman, but not a great one. The fact that he is also a good bowler means he is a great allrounder, but a great batsman, no way. Cheers

[@ammaranwer867]

Kallis was too boring to watch. Lara was the most entertaining of the four.

[@paulej2871]

Chappelli is absolutely spot on......Game changers in the batting lineup are an opposition captains nightmare!....his comments about Boycott are accurate to a T

[@auntyl6549]

The mans just a sour jealous loser, meaning chappel, as a player and ex player, its what hes to do to try make an income, abuse other players.

[@joe-cc7wm]

England never lost a test when Boycott scored a 100, I don't know about you, but that sounds like changing a game to me.

[@paulej2871]

How many of them did they win? That is the more important question

[@joe-cc7wm]

Paul EJ Is it the more important question? It's a fair point in general, I looked it up and its 13 out of 22. Not everyone can be Viv Richards, but by not being him, that shouldn't directly put you in the category of not being great. There's more than one way to win a game, and to say Boycott didn't do that is unfair. If you take what Great Bowlers like Richard Hadlee and Michael Holding have said, that he was the most difficult batsman to bowl at, it shows what a great player he was, and demonstrates his game changing abilities. I'm not trying to say that Boycott could win a game in a session or tear an attack apart, I'm just trying to say that he is a great, undeniably, and that Chappell assertion isn't correct.

[@paulej2871]

A great player.....plays with his team's best interest as the driving force of his performance. Boycott too many times played with his best interests at heart....which is exactly what Chappelli said

[@kaustavkundu6426]

Ian Botham was sent on to run Boycott out.People say after watching Boycott people went out to see grass grow for excitement.

[@kunalbhattacharyya4786]

Hahaha ha......that's the best comment I have seen for a very long time

[@mychannel9020]

Something wrong with your logic there pal. Boycott has never been married therefore cannot be a convicted wife beater.

[@Bernie8330]

Boycott never been married? I'm not surprised, he is such a dull dull bore.

[@stephenguppy7882]

He said that without moving his lips. Totally spot-on about Boycott, the arrogant woman-beater.

[@stephenformosa471]

Ians a great leader . Didnt suffer from fools and looked after people that got results not worry about management or those in charge

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

Ian was NOT a great leader - h was lucky he had Greg Chappell Doug Walters, Lillee and Thommo, Maxy Walker - he himself had the lowest average and the slowest scoring rate BEFORE the great West Indian quicks came along. His legend was of his own making - the stats don't bear out any greatness.

[@noelanish]

Love how Sanjay enforces diplomacy over a fowl mouth here. So funny!

[@kunalbhattacharyya4786]

Sanjay Manjrekar can't even phrase a sentence correctly after so many years in commentary. Look at the way he asked the question...rubbish

[@longarrearstomakegood]

With such a high pitch voice nothing can be an insult

[@stevenrichardson8382]

Boycott didn't play Test Cricket for three years - three prime years (1974-1977) - or his average would have been even higher. He returned in 1977 for the ashes series, which England won. He scored the most runs and averaged 147.33 in that series. The next highest average was 56.28 and the highest Aussie run scorer in that series, Greg Chappell, averaged 41.22. As an opener, not giving your wicket away might have been playing for yourself but it was also nearly always also what the team needed. Not a great? Most aussies are top fellas, but every now and then you get one who is a Doyle and Ian Chappell is one of those few unfortunately.

[@Imrankniazi]

" ... Another reason why I don't classify Geoffrey Boycott as great was that he was a SELFISH BASTARD; he never played for the team, he always played for himself. ..." I reckon that Chappell deserves to be banned for making this obscene and rather shocking comment ... Or an apology in the least! He has no business calling anyone a bastard.

[@raviyadumurthy]

It is certainly necessary for cricket to have players like Boycott, Ravi Shastri, Rahul Dravid who could survive hostile bowling on dangerous pitches under overcast conditions and so on. Many of the modern day batsmen would have wilted if head-gears and latest body protections were not available and if 2-bouncer rule were not brought in. On top of it, batsmen-friendly pitches meant to bring more sponsors and commercial interests has taken art out of cricket to give way to butchery. True worth of solid players shows up under long-drawn adversity which only a test-match can pose.

[@mightynobble]

I'm from Yorkshire, I'm no fan of the Australian team, but everything he says here is pretty much true.

[@Round_07]

Chappell could start a fight in a phone box.

[@bigbernie7260]

And still run away.

[@Bernie8330]

My source was noting other than a recent onscreen showing by commentary teams when he went out to bat - in fairly recent years, so obviously both have gone up slightly since then. I wasnt far off though, and neither 44 SR in tests or 72 in onedayers is going to give bowlers nightmares the night before a match. I think he would have been better off to sacrifice ten runs off his average in return for an additional 10 on his SR, then he may have been a more intimidating prospect for bowlers

[@Bernie8330]

(cont from above) He just doesnt fit into the category that Chappeli talks of who can change the course of a match in a session but rather more like GB who would take too long to score 150+. Didnt matter against teams that were subsequently easy to bowl out twice, but against the top team (full of world class bats) of any era you need a batsmen yourself who can really hurt the opposition bowlers in a short space of time.

[@andrewsimoes1425]

Ian Chappell is comparing Boycott to Sobers and using that to hate on him. Why doesn't Ian compare himself to Sobers?

[@alexlanning712]

Geoff Boycott was the guy who ushered you to a deckchair on the Titanic

[@hardjackson]

how exactly does he 'humiliate' Boycott? Don't think Geoffrey will be losing any sleep over this.

[@ChallHatt]

Would love to hear him talk about Sunny

[@paulthornton918]

Well no one is great if you compare them to Sobers, what a stupid bitter comment. He is still angry he couldn't get Boycott out, Boycott had to take the fast bowlers early on as an opener, not easy for 2 decades. He saw them off for the lower order and won the Ashes quite a few times.

[@brethart91]

i wouldn´t take kallis in the same order, dravid is a very stylish and team leading player..... but gavaskatr is true about him and zaheer abbas is also one of those guys....

[@darkmossie633]

thank you Gary

[@osakablade1958]

Be-careful what you wish chappell. You couldn`t handle boycott.

[@Imrankniazi]

Let me get this straight, being called a bastard is a COMPLIMENT in Australia... When I first learnt this word about 14 years back, it was defined differently I think! And I'll give you a hint, it definitely wasn't complimentary.

[@5eurocups2005]

This guy is daft, how can you criticize a player that was better than you? Top batsmen average between 47-52 in the tests and Geoffrey achieved that with almost 48 and over 8000 runs. This guy barely gets over 40, who is he kidding.

[@TheJonkerr7]

because and like Boycott you don't get it, stats only tell part of the story.

[@charliepascoe1796]

5eurocups2005 what do you mean "how can you criticise players better than you"?!?! Right now you're criticising Ian Chappell himself and I'm sure he was a better cricketer than you'll ever be

[@JazzByDaBay]

how true

[@prashants5071]

In test cricket if i were asked to choose between Pujara and Kohli, I would hands down choose Pujara. I know Boycott scored slow. But i wonder if he was a bit like Pujara, almost impossible to get out in the toughest of circumstances, if he gets settled.

[@Bernie8330]

Lillee, Thommo, Roberts and Holding found it as good as impossible to get him out in the 1974-76 period.

[@lahiridilli]

Boycott was definitely not a strokeless wonder. How can one play for himself in cricket is mystery for me? it's actually the other way round when one plays to the croud and doesn't play for his team. One has to remember that it was always difficlult for an english opener to have a high average coz te nature of the ptich and weather and more often than not Sir Geofrrey was the person to steer his team in heavy waters. Yes he was slow but the situation demanded it.

[@rajarshichatterjee3281]

what ian chappel sayss about boycott and sir garry sobers both are is 100% true

[@SteveD1977]

As for Botham and Chappell saga, the fact was that Botham in typical pommy style went for the smallest guy in the team.

[@johnseabrook1703]

Is that the best you can do?

[@StephenStafford-r2y]

He went for the biggest foul mouth and got him