Geoffrey Boycott bowls in 1979 World Cup final

Boycott bowled six overs and went for 38 runs. However, it wasn’t that Brearley was trying Boycott as a part-time option.

Geoffrey Boycott bowling is not a frequent sight in cricket, but on this particular day in June 1979, England skipper Mike Brearley tried every possible option to break the rampaging partnership of Viv Richards and Collis King.

Boycott bowled six overs and went for 38 runs. However, it wasn’t that Brearley was trying Boycott as a part-time option. The England opener was fairly successful with his medium-pace throughout the tournament and had picked up five wickets with a very good economy rate. However, he couldn’t deliver in the final as Richard’s thumped his way to a skillful 138 not out, taking the team total to 286. In the end it was a comfortable victory for West Indies.

In the above photograph, Boycott — with his cap on — is about to deliver the ball as umpire Dickie Bird looks on. Boycott’s five wickets in the 1979 World Cup is also his totally tally of wickets in One-Day Internationals.

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