Boycott’s split with captain caused upset decision

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33649, 26 September 1974, Page 30

Boycott’s split with captain caused upset decision

(From

WALLY HAMILTON,

N.Z.P.A. correspondent)

LONDON. G. Boycott’s bombshell decision to forfeit his place in the M.C.G. team to tour Australia and New Zealand fulfils a vow he is alleged to have made in April.

He was reported as, saying: “I will never tour for England under Mike Denness again.” The Yorkshire opening batsman is reported to have made this remark after the M.C.C. tour of the West Indies last (northern) winter. I Tactics criticised On that tear, Boycott publicly attacked England’s tactics, implicity criticising Denness’s captaincy, thus opening a serious breach between the pair. The decision of the 33-year-old veteran of 63 tests, including 19 against Australia, has been greeted in nearly total silence by cricket officials, and with! surprise and alarm by the press. The M.C.C. said that] because the reasons were

personal, no comment would be made. The "Evening Standard” said that the decision signals a likely end to Boycott’s cricket career and put it

down to his widely-known dissatisfaction with Denness. Boycott’s withdrawal is the latest and most specitacular incident in a long and controversial career.

The latest series of events that have forced the mercurial Boycott, in A. W. Greig’s words, “out into the cold” began during the West Indies tour. Before that, Boycott had gathered a potent reputation for his supposedly maverick spirit and prickly temperament. ‘ He was said to be convinced he had been discounted as a possible England captain because of the infamous bat-throwing incident in Sydney after he | was given run out during the 1970-71 tour. During the West Indies tour Boycott was reported to have become withdrawn from the rest of the team: isolated on the boundary from the decision-making during play and expressing dissatisfaction with the decisions off the field. in a 8.8. C. interview, he criticised England’s tactics 'and was renrimanded for his

remarks. Player interviews were forbidden, and a Den-ness-Boycott split became common knowledge. In the final test at Port of Spain, which England won to draw the series, Boycott made 99 and 112. He is reported to have said later: “Those runs kept Mike Denness in a job, but he won’t even say well played.” Boycott played in the first test against India in the first of this year’s home series but failed in both innings. At his own request he was left out of the next two tests. The selectors decided not to recall Boycott for the three tests against Pakistan and his omission is said to have left a deep impression on him. Boycott’s worries have not been confined to the test arena. His own county’s board criticised him for “negative” captaincy in one well-publicised incident this season. However, the Yorkshire club swiftly indicated that it, was not connected with Boycott’s decision to miss the tour. Player’s decision “Boycott has not approached the committee or any member on this matter, and it does not concern us in any way,” the Yorkshire secretary (Mr J. Lister) said. “It is entirely a matter for himself.”

Boycott himself said: “Everybody knows that I have had problems which have affected my cricketing form. I hope that in the course of the (northern) winter months I shall be able to solve my remaining problems and that the 1975 season will see me back to full form fighting fit when the Australians arrive in England. “I believe this to be in my own interests, and I would hope that it might also be in the best interests of Yorkshire and England in the long run. Loss of money “I would not lightly throw away about £5OOO in cricketing earnings, and the opportunity of clocking up 14 test appearances, if I really did not feel that it was necessary to do so to regain my full form.” The England chairman of selectors, and tour manager, Mr A. V. Bedser said after the announcement of Boycott’s withdrawal: “It is a pity from England’s point of view. Geoff is a great batsman. When the Australians come next summer, and if Geoff wants to play and is in form, he will be welcomed back.” A replacement for Boycott j will not be hard to find. B. W. Luckhurst and B. A. 'Wood are class openers, well performed against Australia, while J. Jameson has also been suggested.