Boycott has been battling throat cancer

He was well enough to attend the second day's play at Lord's, where England were taking on Zimbabwe.

And Boycott would have been delighted at fellow Yorkshireman Anthony McGrath, who played excellently on his Test debut.

Boycott's illness was first diagnosed last September and at one stage the 63-year-old had to be fed via a tube into his stomach.

He underwent chemotherapy and further tests have now shown the primary cancer has been contained.

Robin Smith, president of Yorkshire Cricket Club, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Geoffrey's very much back to his old self.

"When I last spoke to him, the only difference I could notice is that his voice is a little gruffer, which is hardly surprising given what he has been through.

"He has to continue seeing his oncologist on a regular basis but the signs are that he may be able to return to work in a couple of months or so."

Boycott is one of England's greatest batsmen, scoring more than 48,000 first-class runs at an average of 56.83 during 24-year playing career which came to an end in 1986.

He once said: "Given the choice between Raquel Welch and a hundred at Lord's, I'd take the hundred every time."

But is most famous moment came at Headingley in 1977 when he scored his 100th century in the Ashes Test against Australia.

Boycott's England career encompassed 108 Tests, four of them as captain, and 36 one-day internationals.

He played in the 1979 World Cup final when England were beaten by the West Indies at Lord's.

Following his retirement, he became a respected cricket analyst.