NEW DELHI: England batting great Geoffrey Boycott Geoffrey Boycott was readmitted to the hospital on Sunday following a setback in his recovery from a recent throat surgery.
The 83-year-old’s family disclosed that “things have taken a turn for the worse” since his discharge from the hospital on Friday, where he had undergone a successful procedure to remove a cancerous tumour.
The cricketing icon’s health has further deteriorated as he has now contracted pneumonia, a serious lung infection that can be particularly challenging for individuals of advanced age.
Boycott’s readmission to the hospital underscores the severity of his condition and the need for close medical attention during this critical time.
“Thank you all for the well wishes, we’ve been blown away by the sheer number of them,” read a statement from the family on Boycott’s X account.
“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.”
Boycott has been diagnosed with throat cancer for the second time. The 82-year-old had previously battled the disease in 2002, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
Boycott’s cricketing achievements are remarkable, as he is among a select few who have scored 100 first-class hundreds. During his England career, he amassed over 8,000 runs in 108 Tests, maintaining an impressive average of nearly 48. In 1978, he also stepped in as England’s captain for four Tests when Mike Brearley was injured.
Following his 24-year first-class career, which ended abruptly when Yorkshire dismissed him in 1986, Boycott successfully transitioned into a career as a newspaper columnist and a respected broadcaster. His insightful commentary and analysis garnered him a dedicated global following, particularly in the Indian sub-continent.
In 2020, after a 14-year tenure as a commentator on BBC Radio’s Test Match Special, Boycott decided to step down from his role. He cited his quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2018 and the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic as factors that influenced his decision to conclude his BBC career.