Boycott back in hospital with pneumonia

Former England captain Sir Geoffrey Boycott has been readmitted to hospital after developing pneumonia following cancer surgery.

The 83-year-old was discharged from hospital on Friday after an operation to remove a tumour from his throat.

However, Boycott’s family said in a statement on his X account: “Unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worse.

“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.”

The family added they had been “blown away” by the number of well wishes since Boycott was originally discharged.

Boycott, who was put on a liquid-only diet following his discharge, was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002 and was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The cancer returned earlier this year.

The former England opening batsman played in 108 Tests between 1964 and 1982, scoring 8,114 runs including 22 centuries.

Boycott, who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire, averaged 56.83 as a batter with more than 48,000 runs and 151 centuries.

He spent 14 years with the BBC’s commentary team after retiring from playing, working on Test Match Special until 2020.

Boycott had quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2018, which he said was a factor in his decision to step away from commentating, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.