Cricket

England's recent 2-1 Test series defeat to Pakistan has exposed a glaring weakness in their batting lineup against spin bowling. Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has labeled the team "flat track bullies," criticizing their inability to adjust to challenging conditions.After winning the first Test in Multan, England lost the second and third Tests, with all 40 of their wickets falling to spinners. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali combined for a staggering 39 wickets, highlighting the English batters' vulnerability against spin.Boycott has sharply criticized the England batting, particularly their aggressive "Bazball" approach implemented by coach Brendon McCullum. He argues that this approach is ill-suited for spinning pitches, which demand a more nuanced and adaptable batting style."England are flat-track bullies on good batting pitches... spinning pitches demand adjustments," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph UK.He pointed to the example of Harry Brook, who scored a triple century in the first Test but struggled against spin in subsequent innings. "A perfect example is Brook. He scored a brilliant 317 in the first Test and in the next four innings he was naive with no idea against spin and totalled 56 runs," Boycott wrote.After piling up 823 runs in the first Test, England failed to cross 300 again in any innings of the second and third Tests. In the second innings of both the final two Tests, England collapsed for a total of under 150 (144 and 112).Boycott expressed concern that these results will be forgotten as England will not tour the subcontinent again on spinning pitches for nearly three years. "The saddest thing is that England do not play in India or Pakistan again on spinning pitches for nearly three years, so our players will quickly be back to being praised by some supporters as the best batsmen England have ever had. All I say to that is you must be kidding," Boycott wrote.England's series defeat has left them 6th in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle table, significantly reducing their chances of making the WTC final.

Geoffrey Boycott, the legendary England opener, has urged promising off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to emulate the bowling techniques of Nathan Lyon, whom he considers the preeminent off-spinner in contemporary cricket.Since his debut in India earlier this year, Bashir has claimed 29 wickets in seven Tests. However, he failed to make an impact in the second innings of the series opener against Sri Lanka at Manchester, as the batters effectively countered his variations by advancing down the pitch.Boycott believes that Bashir possesses the talent to improve significantly. He highlights Bashir's height and fluid action, which can generate bounce on hard surfaces and impart natural loop to his deliveries. However, he suggests that Bashir needs to refine his line and length consistency."My impression is he is not clear on what line he should be bowling so he tries all sorts of deliveries searching for a wicket," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.Boycott recommends that Bashir study videos of Lyon's bowling. He notes that Lyon bowls close to the stumps, allowing him to drift the ball away from the batsman while aiming to pitch outside off stump and spin it back into the stumps."His straight-on ball brings slip in play and he has a short square leg for the bat/pad nick. That way he can beat right-handers inside and outside of the bat," Boycott explained.Boycott emphasizes the importance of matching line with length, as great bowlers must be able to control both aspects. He also advises Bashir to develop a stock ball that he can rely on to keep batters in check during Test matches."I think Shoaib has to learn that he can't always go searching for wickets, admirable as that is, because it can become expensive," Boycott wrote. "Sometimes when two opposition batsmen get set on a flat batting pitch the seamers are given the best end and the spinner the worst end. They are asked to bowl uphill or against the wind to do a holding job, keeping the batsmen quiet and runs to a minimum. That is why he needs a good stock ball."England currently hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka. The second Test will be played at Lord's on August 29, followed by the series finale at The Oval on September 6.

Legendary England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has been readmitted to the hospital with pneumonia, just days after undergoing surgery for throat cancer. The 81-year-old was released from the hospital after the surgery, but his condition has since deteriorated.Boycott's family released a statement on social media, saying that he has developed pneumonia and is unable to eat or drink. He is now back in the hospital on oxygen and a feeding tube."Thank you all for the well wishes, we've been blown away by the sheer number of them! Unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worse and my Father has developed pneumonia and is unable to eat or drink so is back in hospital on oxygen and a feeding tube for the foreseeable," the statement read.Boycott is one of England's greatest ever batsmen. He scored 8,114 runs in 108 Tests from 1964 to 1982, and captained England on four occasions. He also scored 48,426 runs in first-class cricket for Yorkshire, the fifth highest of all time.After retiring from playing, Boycott became a successful commentator and writer. He worked for the BBC Test Match Special commentary team for 14 years, and has also written several books on cricket.Boycott's illness has shocked the cricket world. Many of his former teammates and opponents have sent messages of support, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Legendary English cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has undergone successful surgery to remove throat cancer, prompting an outpouring of support from the cricketing community.Boycott, 81, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002 and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the cancer recently returned, necessitating surgical intervention.His daughter, Emma, announced the successful outcome of the surgery on Boycott's Twitter account. "My Father, Geoffrey, has successfully come out of surgery this evening after a 3-hour operation to remove his throat cancer," she wrote.Former Australian cricketer and coach Darren Lehmann expressed his relief and well wishes. "Thanks for the update, please pass on our thoughts to the whole family and glad the surgery went well," he tweeted.Ex-England player Alan Butcher exclaimed "Great news," while former captain Michael Vaughan posted a red heart emoji.Boycott, known for his prolific batting and astute commentary, enjoyed a remarkable cricketing career. He amassed 8,114 runs in 108 Tests from 1964 to 1982, captaining England on four occasions. His Test average of 47.72 included 22 centuries and 42 half-centuries.In first-class cricket, Boycott represented Yorkshire, scoring an impressive 48,426 runs, the fifth-highest tally of all time. He later became president of Yorkshire and was a respected member of the BBC Test Match Special commentary team for 14 years until 2020.Boycott's contributions to cricket extend beyond his playing and commentary roles. He has authored several books on the sport and has been a regular pundit on Sky Sports and Talksport radio.The cricketing fraternity and fans alike are relieved and hopeful for Boycott's speedy recovery. His resilience and determination have been an inspiration to many, and his legacy as one of England's greatest batsmen remains secure.

England's recent T20 World Cup exit and Test series loss to India have drawn criticism from former cricketer Geoffrey Boycott. Boycott believes that the team's focus on entertainment over results is detrimental to their success.In a column for The Telegraph, Boycott expressed his disappointment with England's performance in the T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the semifinals by India. He also criticized the team's 4-1 Test series loss in India earlier this year.Boycott argued that England cricket fans expect a winning team that plays positive cricket. However, he believes that the team's recent performances have been characterized by "ego and hubris.""They came out with comments about being entertainers and how it was important to score quickly and thrill the crowds," Boycott wrote. "All that is laudable but they should never lose sight that there is a winner and a loser and losing isn’t much fun."Boycott emphasized that Test match cricket is not an exhibition and that players should not prioritize entertainment over results. He warned that if players start to think that results don't matter, they might as well "join a circus."Boycott also criticized England's recent batting approach, which he described as "Bazball strokeplay." While he acknowledged that this approach has produced some exciting moments, he believes it has also cost the team matches."I hope the coach, captain and players have taken stock and will now temper their batting with some common sense," Boycott wrote.England is currently involved in a three-match Test series against West Indies. Boycott's comments will likely put pressure on the team to perform well and prove that they are committed to winning.

Geoffrey Boycott Diagnosed with Throat Cancer for Second TimeLegendary English cricketer Sir Geoffrey Boycott has been diagnosed with throat cancer for the second time. The 83-year-old is scheduled to undergo surgery in two weeks to treat the illness.Boycott revealed his diagnosis in a statement quoted by 'The Telegraph.' "In the last few weeks, I have had an MRI Scan, CT Scan, a PET Scan, and two biopsies, and it has now been confirmed I have throat cancer and will require an operation," he said.Boycott first battled cancer in 2002, when he was diagnosed at the age of 62. At that time, he was given just three months to live but managed to recover through 35 sessions of chemotherapy, thanks to the support of his wife and daughter.The former England opener has an impressive cricket career, scoring 8114 runs in 108 Test matches and 151 first-class centuries. He retired in 1982 and transitioned into a media career, working as a commentator for BBC until he stepped down in 2020.Boycott's diagnosis has sent shockwaves through the cricket world. Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted, "Thoughts are with Sir Geoffrey Boycott and his family at this difficult time. A true legend of the game and a great man."Boycott's resilience and determination have been praised by many. He has vowed to "get on with it and hope for the best." His positive attitude and unwavering spirit serve as an inspiration to all who are facing adversity.

Geoffrey Boycott, the legendary England cricketer, has urged selectors to prioritize the future and phase out 41-year-old pace maestro James Anderson. Boycott's plea comes after Anderson's historic achievement of 700 Test wickets against India.While acknowledging Anderson's remarkable longevity and skill, Boycott believes it's time to prepare younger seamers for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, where Anderson will be 43. He advocates for giving opportunities to emerging talents like Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts."England cannot keep wrapping him in cotton wool and picking him on sentiment forever," Boycott asserted. "In a year-and-a-half, England's next big challenge will be going to Australia to try and win back the Ashes."Boycott also criticized England's current bowling lineup, describing it as lacking potency and intimidation. He singled out inexperienced spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, an "ineffectual" Mark Wood, and an unfit Ben Stokes."It would not frighten anyone: two raw kids in Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir with little first-class bowling as spinners, an ineffectual fast bowler in Mark Wood who just bangs the ball into the track with little movement," Boycott criticized.The former cricketer also lamented England's batting struggles against Kuldeep Yadav, expressing surprise at their inability to counter the spinner's deliveries.Boycott concluded by casting doubt on England's ability to learn from their defeat to India, suggesting they might revert to their usual form against weaker opponents."Stokes says they will learn from this tour. I am not convinced. They will go back home and revert to type and beat ordinary West Indies and Sri Lanka teams and India will be forgotten as a distant memory," Boycott remarked.

England's dismal performance in the fifth Test against India has drawn criticism from former England captain Geoffrey Boycott. After England's victory in the first Test, Boycott had questioned the age and ability of India's captain, Rohit Sharma. However, Sharma has silenced his critics with a string of impressive performances, including two centuries in the series.Boycott's comments, published in a column for the Telegraph, had sparked outrage among Indian social media users. He had written, "Their captain Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best. He makes pretty cameos but has only scored two Test hundreds at home in four years."Boycott's assessment of Sharma's abilities has been proven wrong by the Indian captain's recent performances. In the second Test, Sharma scored a century and a fifty, while in the third Test, he scored another century. His tally of 400 runs in the series is the fourth-highest among all players.Sharma's resurgence has been a major factor in India's dominance in the series. After losing the first Test, India has come back strongly to win the second and third Tests. England, on the other hand, has struggled to find consistency and has been outplayed by India in all departments of the game.Boycott's comments have been met with derision by Indian fans, who have taken to social media to express their support for Sharma. Many have pointed out that Sharma's recent performances have proven Boycott's assessment to be inaccurate.The Indian captain's form has been a major boost for India, who are now on the verge of winning the series. With two Tests remaining, India needs just one more win to secure a series victory. England, on the other hand, faces an uphill task to salvage something from the series.