WHETHER that famous Panama hat makes an appearance under the spotlights remains to be seen, but what is certain is there will be plenty of lively debate, laughs and a few home truths when cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott brings his show to the Bradford Alhambra.

An Evening with Boycott and Aggers: Boycott’s 100th Hundred – the 40th Anniversary Tour, takes to the stage on Friday with the legendary England opening batsman and former Yorkshire cricket captain at the metaphoric crease with former Leicestershire fast bowler Jonathan Agnew.

Aggers, as he is fondly known, now shares TV and radio commentary slots with Boycott, bringing their inimitable style and passion to cricket lovers across the airwaves.

“I can’t say I’ll not be nervous,” said Boycott about his Bradford appearance. “It’s because I am passionate about my sport and care. I want to it be right and a success. I’m also a bit shy,” he said with an unconvincing chuckle.

“Aggers will no doubt give me some stick and poke a bit of fun but the whole night will be about having a laugh, sharing memories. It will be spontaneous; there’ll be a bit of film too and then later on chance for people in the audience to ask questions that Aggers will catch and field to me.”

Perhaps one of the questions will be his thoughts on the restoration project at Park Avenue – the ground where he cut his cricketing teeth and which is having £5.5 million spent on it to bring it back to first-class scratch.

The venture is a partnership between the England and Wales Cricket Board, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and Bradford Council.

“That’s fantastic, though I can’t see Yorkshire putting much money forward; they’re over £20 million in debt,” he mused.

“Park Avenue was a great place to play. It was always a results pitch, spicy and interesting. You knew you could get a result there.

“I always thought of it as being like a bull ring. The people were on top looking down and it was a great atmosphere, like being on stage. Fantastic.”

Boycott’s famous 100th first class century in front of his home crowd at Headingley in 1977 is etched in all Yorkshire and England fans’ minds – as well as several Australian cricketers’ – and is the reason for the tour around the country, but is is also helping bolster up what is a niche sport.

“There’s no doubt cricket is suffering. People have more money these days to do other things. Today almost everyone has a car so they go for a ride out rather than going to watch a cricket match. There are more and more taking up golf too. What’s needed is getting people interested again.

“I am passionate about cricket and Yorkshire Cricket Club. I say it as it is. It’s been my life but we need a modern edge.

“Crowds are going down, unless it’s an Ashes match. I always said with all the schools around, go and get two or three thousand kids on the seats for free. Pack the grounds out and get an atmosphere. It develops their interest.

“Something has to be done. Look at Yorkshire Cricket Club. There are only 4,000 voting members while in the ’70s there were 13,000. Back in the ’50s and ’60s you had to have two members to vote you in to get you onto the waiting list. That’s what it was like then.”

He also said there were ways to make changes to speed test cricket up without spoiling it.

“It has to move with the times. It’s still played over five days with an over rate of 15. Speed up the bowling and have it over four days. I’ve said that for long enough.”

Despite cementing his name in test cricket, Boycott appreciates the thrill of T20. “I love it. I think it’s a great idea. It’s quick, gets the youngsters interested, but it needs to be special. It’s like too much of a good thing.

“Soon there will be a city franchise of T20. Eight teams from around the country will take part and that will be alongside the current T20 Blast. You’ll have these same teams playing both within a few days. If you have your favourite dinner every day of the week you’ll soon get fed up of it.”

Asked to name his own cricketing hero, Boycott immediately replies it was his Uncle Algy who played at Ackworth Cricket Club, near Pontefract.

“He taught me and gave me great advice. It was all thanks to him.”

The Boycott and Aggers evening is tomorrow (Friday, April 14), at The Alhambra, from 7.30pm.