Knighthood has Boycott on back foot

IT IS somewhat ironic that Geoffrey Boycott in attempting to protest his innocence over an historic assault charge, came across as exactly the sort of bully who would appear to have a low and hostile opinion of others. Whether this is likely to end in violence against women is for the individual to decide, although a French court was fairly unequivocal about it in 1998. It is this conviction that sits uncomfortably with his newly bestowed knighthood from the former Prime Minister, Theresa May, which this week brought condemnation from Adina Claire, of Women’s Aid, among others. Boycott’s response to Martha Kearney on Radio 4 about this — ‘I don’t give a toss about her, love, it was 25 years ago’ — was both self-harming and flawed. For as long as we’re talking shelf life, his second trial was 21 years ago, not 25, and certainly not as ancient as the batting exploits for which Boycott (above) has been recognised, given his last appearance for England came in 1982. Equally, while Boycott denies assault, his then girlfriend Margaret Moore insists it happened, and in the event of a tie, it would not be unsportsmanlike to recruit an independent judge, in this case the French court, who sided with Moore. No doubt May fondly imagines something of herself in the stoic, limpet-like but ultimately enduring Boycott, even if he was also known for acts of outstanding selfishness. When Boris Johnson succeeded her, he is believed to have said that No10 had seen enough of Boycott, and it was now time to give Botham a go. Although running out 21 of his team-mates is much more Sir Geoffrey’s territory than Sir Ian’s.