Geoffrey Boycott’s self-absorption has always kept him close to controversy | Matthew Engel
It was entirely in keeping with the nature of Boycott’s cricketing and subsequent careers that it took just hours for the announcement of his knighthood to turn messyIt has taken 40 years – longer than even the most interminable Boycott innings – but it has come to pass, as the prophet foretold.It was Christmas 1979; then as now England had just been walloped by Australia; Boycott had batted through an otherwise hopeless second innings in Perth for an unbeaten 99. On the Guardian sports pages Frank Keating wrote a column of pastiche carols. One went as follows: Related: Calls for Boris Johnson to withdraw Geoffrey Boycott's knighthood Related: Geoffrey Boycott was convicted of domestic assault, so why has May knighted...