Former England captain Sir Geoffrey Boycott has undergone successful surgery to remove throat cancer, according to an update from his daughter Emma Boycott. The 83-year-old cricket legend, who announced his diagnosis earlier this month, has faced throat cancer for the second time in his life. Boycott, who previously battled cancer in 2002 at the age of 62, was informed last month that the illness had returned. After his initial diagnosis, Boycott underwent 35 chemotherapy sessions and credited his recovery to the unwavering support of his wife Rachael and daughter Emma.
Emma Boycott shared the news of her father’s recent surgery on his X account, revealing that the procedure lasted three hours. “Just to let everyone know my father, Geoffrey, has successfully come out of surgery this evening after a three-hour operation to remove his throat cancer,” she posted. “Yet to see him but the surgeon says it went well. He asked that I post an update.” Geoffrey Boycott’s illustrious cricket career spanned from 1964 to 1982, during which he played in 108 Tests for England and amassed 8,114 runs, including 22 centuries. Known for his steadfast technique and resilience at the crease, Boycott also captained the England side on four occasions during the 1978 season, stepping in for the injured regular skipper Mike Brearley.
In addition to his international success, Boycott had a prolific first-class career with Yorkshire, scoring over 48,000 runs and achieving 151 centuries. Despite his on-field achievements, he faced health challenges off the pitch, including quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2018, which influenced his decision to retire from commentary amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The cricket world was shocked on July 2 when Boycott announced that his cancer had returned. “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 stated. “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.”