Geoff Boycott – A remarkable season Easts (Waverley) 1976-77
Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Sydney | July 22, 2023
By Dennis Hourn
Life Member
In 128 years of Sydney Premier first grade cricket only two players have scored more than 1000 runs and averaged over 150 in the same season. The first was the immortal Victor Trumper in 1897/98 for Paddington and the other was Geoff Boycott, playing for East’s (Waverley) in 1976/77. And only one player has scored seven centuries in a first grade season, Geoff Boycott, Waverley, 1976/77. Boycott did all this in just 15 innings. His fifteen innings also included two half centuries.
It was a phenomenal season. An exhibition of batting which has not been seen since. In 1976/77 Boycott amassed 1,160 runs at an average of 165.71, an East’s Cricket Club record that still stands today.
But first let’s go back to the beginning.
In 1975/76 the Waverley first grade team, led by Tony Greig, swept all before them to take out the first grade premiership which the club had last won in 1944/45. Great things were expected in the 1976/77 season with the return of Greig as captain. However under an MCC direction to take “a complete rest from cricket” prior to the English tour of India and Sri Lanka scheduled for November 1977 it emerged that Greig would be unavailable to rejoin Waverley. As he said at the time “I have no option but to follow the rulings of the MCC”
An overseas replacement was urgently needed especially given the loss of key players. Len Richardson had moved to Queensland to open the batting with the great Viv Richards, Ron Crippin, a punishing state batsman had swapped clubs, Mike Benningfield, keeper, had returned to England and of course Tony Greig. And what a loss Greig was who had put in one of the greatest all round performances in grade cricket history in 1975/76 taking 77 wickets at 12 and scoring 544 runs at 32.
On the news of Grieg’s unavailability, the Waverley management committee went into overdrive to secure an overseas replacement. Fortunately, Waverley Cricket Club stocks were high. The club’s reputation had spread well beyond Sydney and was the best-known Australian club side in England. Not only because of the performance of Tony Greig but also how, as a professional, his earnings were unheard of at the time for a club cricketer. A replacement for Greig became the number one priority for the club management.
A general invitation went out for any overseas play interested in a club season in Sydney. Bruce Francis, Waverley and former Australian opening batsman, again used his English county connections, as he had done with Greig the year before, and started negotiations with Geoff Boycott who had not played test cricket since 1974. Boycott had played 65 tests scoring 4839 runs at 48.39 but for various reasons had made himself unavailable for selection.
Just prior to the commencement of the season it was confirmed Boycott would play the first two or three rounds for Waverley. Bruce Francis was selected as captain and it was hoped spinner David Hourn would be recovered sufficiently from his recent knee operation to make Waverley a force. To the relief of the Waverley Committee and a huge bonus Boycott confirmed on arrival in Sydney he would commit to playing the entire season for Waverley.
As an aside an interesting development had occurred during the offseason with the announcement by Waverley Council, they would be refurbishing Waverley Oval and it would be unavailable for the upcoming season. As a consequence, Waverley’s home ground for 1976/77 was to be the Sydney Cricket Ground number 2. This was a beautiful ground, with a wicket renowned for it's true bounce but was known to be well grassed and was very quick. Plenty of carry. Fast bowlers relished the chance to bowl on the SCG 2. A real test of Boycott’s mettle given the rumours he struggled against pace. These rumours however were well and truly put to bed by the end of the 1976/77 season.
Waverley’s first game was at the SCG 2 against Mosman and their opening bowler was former test opener David Colley. His opening partner was Sandy Ratcliffe a very lively quick. In what was to be a recurring theme throughout this season the game was rain affected. Boycott was trapped leg before to Colley for 10, one of his rare failures.
Boycott would have been told in his many discussions with Greig that club cricket in Sydney was of a high standard. And in the first four games for Waverley Boycott had to face some serious pace. Second game against Northern Districts the opening bowlers were state speedsters Steve Bernard and Mark Clews. Round 3 and round 4 the opening bowlers included test players Len Pascoe and Geoff Lawson. It was indeed a baptism of fire for Boycott but he met the challenge head on. No mean feat in a season affected by rain on uncovered wickets. And no helmets.
His innings in round two against Northern Districts was to give a hint of what lay ahead. Chasing ND’s 174 Waverley won on first innings two down with Boycott scoring a masterful 98 not out. His innings included 17 fours and drew rave reviews in the press, especially given the gloomy conditions.
Alan Davidson - “Boycott is the nearest I have seen anywhere to having a technique like Len Hutton. He has so much time to play his shots” rather prophetically Davidson was to add “I can't see anyone getting Boycott out this season”.
And respected cricket writer Phil Wilkins on Boycott after the ND innings:
"A great innings in the dark. Boycott was the model batsman for any young cricketer yesterday. Dressed neatly with sleeves buttoned to the wrist and collar raised, he was relaxed, completely professional in everything he did and practically devoid of mannerisms. Upright and feet together. Impeccable defence, his only habit was to adjust his new Waverley club cap. As each ball was delivered, he took a quarter of a step backwards and then moved into his stroke."
And as for Davidson’s prediction well it was to be in 8 of Boycott’s 15 innings. It should also be noted that Boycott throughout the season was batting according to the strict instructions of captain Bruce Francis. Due to the loss of key players, especially Greig, the team tactics were to compile 200 to 250 runs with Boycott’s roll being to bat through the innings. As Francis recalls in his first meeting with Boycott “I told him if we can post 200 to 250 runs, as we have one of the best spinners in Australia, we will win more than we lose. I want you to bat as long as you can, the runs will come”.
After the ND innings Boycott was a veritable run machine with only a few exceptions and only one score in single figures. His successive innings after his 98 no were against Bankstown 45 no, UNSW 133 no, Sutherland 27 and 31, Petersham 120 no, Sydney University 128 no, Nepean 111, St. George 106, Gordon 1 and 26, West’s 140 no, Balmain 109 and his last game North Sydney 75 no.
A couple of innings require special mention.
Boycott’s 133 no against UNSW was as close to perfection as you can get all things considered. Against a fearsome attack on a pace friendly deck he carried his bat for Waverley to post 269. UNSW, eventual premiers, had a particularly strong pace attack and formidable spin twins in Mark Ray and Paddy Gratten-Smith. But a fired up Lawson and Greg Watson could not budge Boycott and he played the spinners with respect but authority. Boycott was resolute and determined to follow out his captain’s instructions. Even to the point where he and David Hourn, one of the games best credentialed number 11’s, added fifty for the last wicket. Even a rare solar eclipse which occurred halfway through Boycott’s innings failed to disturb his concentration!
Boycott smothers a Gratten-Smith delivery against UNSW at the SCG
Against Sydney University, which was played on a very unpredictable Trumper Oval wicket, Boycott showed just what he was made off. Again, Boycott batted throughout the innings scoring 128 no in challenging conditions, constantly “sledged” by the Uni bowlers (by this stage Boycotts wicket was prized) to secure a win over the strong Uni team.
It’s possible Boycott’s season with Waverley rejuvenated him as he resumed test cricket just a few months after season’s end after a three year test hiatus, he played another 44 tests scoring a further 3,275 test runs. Boycott retired from test cricket in 1982 as a true legend of the game.
A few years ago, Boycott was to write to the club:
“FROM SIR GEOFFREY BOYCOTT
27 March 2021
Hi Dennis. What a wonderful surprise to hear from you.
Phil O'Sullivan was a top man. A good thing you are doing. Waverley has a rich history.
I sometimes think what your brother may have achieved if that damn knee of his had been stronger as I didn’t get to see David bowl with a good knee. Tony Greig told me plus your team mates about his quality.
One of the best periods of my career and life playing for Waverley. It boosted my confidence, I felt very comfortable amongst everyone at the Club as you all made me so welcome.
I will always remember it and have written about my time at Waverley in that way.
Warmest regards
Sir Geoffrey Boycott Kt. OBE”
Memories of Boycott:
1. The most dedicated cricketer I have ever encountered. Completely driven to improve his craft. The first day he arrived in Australia he had a three hour net session on the concrete wickets outside the Oval. For the bowlers, exhausting. For Boycott just another day in the office.
2. Technically the best batsman I have played with or against. His concentration amazing. A driven sportsman.
3. An amazing memory for people, names and places.
4. Yes. Taciturn, reserved but I like to think his experience with Waverley loosened him up somewhat. After all no one in the club played with his intensity.
For the record in season 1976/77 Waverley finished equal seventh winning seven, drawing seven and losing two on first innings. Our failure to finish higher on the ladder mainly due to an injury to our main strike weapon David Hourn who ended up playing just the four games. Three other bowlers also suffered injuries. In addition rain and light affected matches saw us draw three games which we could have expected to win.
It was a season to remember and an honour to play with one of the greats of the game, Sir Geoffrey Boycott OBE.
