Women Should Not Commentate Cricket, Says Geoffrey Boycott

England great Geoffrey Boycott has sensationally stated that females shouldn’t be commentating the men’s game. His comments came after the BBC decided against renewing his contract, thus bringing an end to his 14-year tenure as an experts commentator for the Test Match Special coverage.

In a Daily Telegraph column, the legendary batsman said people who didn’t play at international level, including women, can’t do the same job in the commentary box as former greats. He cited Gabby Logan, Alison Mitchell and Clare Balding as females who he says are excellent at fronting as presenters and reporting before stating that they shouldn’t be providing expert analysis. Former England international Isa Guha is the new face of the BBC’s cricket coverage.

“Many people do not understand there are two types of commentators. There is the one that sets the scene and calls the ball-by-ball play and there is another who gives expert opinion and analysis,” said Geoffrey Boycott.

“You do not have to have played top cricket to be a great ball-by-ball commentator…But to provide expert analysis you need to have experienced the heat of Test cricket and understand what it takes to succeed,” he added.

Has been an absolute pleasure working @bbctms over the yrs so really excited at the opp to present the coverage as it comes back to @bbcsport ? for the first time in 21 yrs!! While I can’t wait to get going, I would like to say how incredibly thankful I am to @SkyCricket. ?? pic.twitter.com/uvroxZA7eB

— Isa Guha (@isaguha) June 5, 2020

Geoffrey Boycott further said that there should not be room for females to sit in the box as the ‘experts’ comments person.

“You have to know the pressure, emotions and technique required and I do not believe you can learn that from reading a book or because you played club cricket, second XI cricket or, with great respect, women’s cricket. As good as the women are at their game, it bears no resemblance to the power and pace of men’s cricket,” he said.

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