Cricket world sends outpouring of love after devastating news about Geoffrey Boycott emerges

The cricket world is sending messages of support to Geoffrey Boycott after the English icon revealed he's been diagnosed with throat cancer for a second time. The 83-year-old announced on Tuesday that he was told last week the cancer had returned, having been treated for the illness in 2002.

Boycott underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy 22 years ago, and will undergo surgery in two weeks' time to remove the cancer. Boycott told the Daily Telegraph in the UK: "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.

"From past experience I realise that to overcome cancer a second time I will need excellent medical treatment and quite a bit of luck and, even if the operation is successful, every cancer patient knows they have to live with the possibility of it returning. So I will just get on with it and hope for the best."

Cricket fans around the world were left saddened by the devastating news. Aussie great Darren Lehman wrote on social media: "Hope you’re going ok legend. Lots of love from all of us. Stay strong, love to the family."

The Armchair Cricket Podcast wrote: “Terrible news. Stay strong Geoffrey Boycott, you’ll fight it off again." The Barmy Army's official account said: "We’re sending our very best wishes to the iconic former England batter."

Another fan posted a photo of Boycott from his playing days and wrote: "Get well soon Geoffrey Boycott - show the bloody disease this sort of spirit and you're bound to be fine!" And another wrote: "Damn. So sorry to hear this. Good luck Geoffrey Boycott. A hero of mine growing up where he was born and watching him through my childhood."

Geoffrey Boycott a cricket icon on and off the field

Boycott is one of very few cricketers to have scored 100 centuries at first-class level. He scored more than 8000 runs in 108 Test matches for England at an average of nearly 48, and captained England in four Tests in 1978 in place of the injured Mike Brearley.

His 24-year first-class career ended with Yorkshire sacking him in 1986, before he established a successful media career in print and TV. In 2020 his stint as a commentator on BBC Radio's Test Match Special came to an end after 14 years, with Boycott admitting the quadruple heart bypass surgery he underwent in 2018 were factors in his decision to end his BBC career.

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He has remained a columnist for the Telegraph in recent years, and made some scathing comments about England's 'Bazball' approach last year after they failed to win back the Ashes from Australia. “England had an opportunity of a lifetime and screwed it up. The idea of losing the Ashes should give them nightmares,” he wrote last July.

“Before the start of the series most people - me included - felt there was not much to choose between the two teams but very quickly England showed that man for man and as a team they had the edge. The cricket England played was spectacular and their new brand of batting deservedly received so much praise and so many plaudits.”

with agencies