Geoffrey Boycott’s self-absorption has always kept him close to controversy | Matthew Engel

It was entirely in keeping with the nature of Boycott’s cricketing and subsequent careers that it took just hours for the announcement of his knighthood to turn messyIt has taken 40 years – longer than even the most interminable Boycott innings – but it has come to pass, as the prophet foretold.It was Christmas 1979; then as now, England had just been walloped by Australia; Boycott had batted through an otherwise hopeless second innings in Perth for an unbeaten 99. On the Guard