London: England cricket great Geoffrey Boycott has married it was confirmed on Thursday. Legendary Yorkshire opening batsman Boycott, 62, married long-term partner Rachel Swinglehurst, 50, last Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Wakefield Register Office, where the ceremony took place said. Swinglehurst is the mother of Boycott's 14-year-old daughter Emma and has been helping him in his battle against cancer. News of Boycott's marriage surprised even some of his oldest friends. Former Test umpire Dickie Bird, who has known Boycott since they played alongside one another at Yorkshire club side Barnsley, said, "I have to say I was shocked. "I was with him for two hours about two weeks ago having a cup of tea and he never said a thing. It came as a big surprise. I wish them all the best for the future." "I have known them for years. They are lovely people with a lovely daughter. I hope they have a long life together." Boycott was widely acknowledged as the best defensive batsman of his generation but was sometimes accused of selfishness by team-mates and opponents alike. Nevertheless he played 108 times for England and notched up his 100th first-class hundred on his home ground of Headingley in a Test match against Australia in 1977. After he was controversially sacked by Yorkshire in 1986, Boycott found renewed fame as a television commentator. In September he was first diagnosed with throat cancer, his illness curtailing his broadcasting work. Copyright AFP 2001

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