Famous Cricketers No 69 - G. Boycott

1963 Having made the brave decision to give up his job with the Ministry of Pensions to help his pursuit of a regular first-team place, Boycott not only achieved this, he finished the season second in the national first-class averages. After a modest start he scored his first century, 145 against Lancashire at Sheffield, helping Stott in a 4th wicket partnership of 249. In the return fixture, in early August, he scored 113, setting an early trend of heavy scoring against the old enemy. His other hundred, 165 not out, playing against Leicestershire at Scarborough, was his highest score of the season. But perhaps his finest innings was the 90 he scored against Middlesex on a poor wicket on his first visit to Lord’s. He was Yorkshire’s most successful batsman and at the end of the season was awarded his county cap and voted Young Cricketer of the Year. The gamble of giving up his job had paid off! Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 6. Yorkshire v Cambridge University, Fenner’s, May (1), 2, 3 (Match drawn) c P.D.Briggs b M.E.Miller 16 235-8d 120 1 198-5 1 7. Yorkshire v Northamptonshire, Northampton, May 4, 6, 7 (Yorkshire won by seven wickets) b C.Milburn 8 339 137 did not bat - 105-3 303 1 8. Yorkshire v Gloucestershire, Bradford, May 18, 20, (21) (Match drawn) b J.B.Mortimore 9 187 80 54-5 9. Yorkshire v Kent, Gravesend, May 29, 30, 31 (Yorkshire won by 22 runs) c A.W.Catt b J.C.J.Dye 27 263 199 1 not out 21 187-9d 229 1 10. Yorkshire v Lancashire, Bramall Lane, June 1, 2, 3 (Yorkshire won by an innings and 110 runs) b T.Greenhough 145 384-6d 151 123 11. Yorkshire v Somerset, Harrogate, June 5, 6, 7 (Yorkshire won by an innings and 39 runs) c R.T.Virgin b F.E.Rumsey 37 352 202 1 111 1 12. Yorkshire v Derbyshire, Chesterfield, June 8, 10, 11 (Yorkshire won by an innings and 56 runs) lbw b H.L.Jackson 25 404-4d 238 110 13. Yorkshire v Somerset, Taunton, June 15, 17, 18 (Match drawn) c H.W.Stephenson b D.G.Doughty 76 222 271-8d lbw b D.G.Doughty 53 241 13-1 14. Yorkshire v Gloucestershire, Bristol, June (19), 20, 21 (Match drawn) did not bat - 63-2d 126-2d not out 49 173-7 154-4d 15. Yorkshire v Worcestershire, Bradford, June 22, 24, (25) (Match drawn) b R.G.M.Carter 50 213-9d 307 16. Yorkshire v Glamorgan, Bramall Lane, June 26, 27, 28 (Yorkshire won by ten wickets) c J.S.Pressdee b O.S.Wheatley 0 218 185 did not bat - 63-0 95 17. Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, June 29, July 1, 2 (Match drawn) c H.I.Moore b K.Gillhouley 21 126 267 8-0 18. Yorkshire v Middlesex, Headingley, July 6, 8, 9 (Middlesex won by six wickets) lbw b D.A.Bick 14 147 47 b D.A.Bick 66 147-7d 251-4 19. Yorkshire v Surrey, Kennington Oval, July 13, 15, 16 (Match drawn) not out 50 149 168-4d lbw b D.A.D.Sydenham 8 180-6d 19-0 20. Yorkshire v Sussex, Bradford, July 17, 18, 19 (Yorkshire won by ten wickets) c R.J.Langridge b D.L.Bates 2 188 103 not out 5 28-0 112 7