Boris takes a swing at Theresa May with comparison to her cricketing hero Geoffrey Boycott

Boris Johnson launched a coded attack on Theresa May’s leadership style today as he vowed to be more like Sir Ian Botham than Geoffrey Boycott if he wins the keys to Downing Street. 

Mrs May is a well known fan of cricketing legend Mr Boycott who became famous for his conservative approach to batting and methodical scoring. 

But Mr Johnson told Tory activists at a hustings event in Carlisle that he intended to follow the example of Sir Ian who developed a reputation as a flamboyant and exciting all-rounder. 

The former foreign secretary warned the Conservative Party members in attendance that the Tories would ‘kick the bucket’ unless they adopted a different approach. 

Asked if the UK would get ‘full-on Boris’ if he wins the contest against Jeremy Hunt and is named prime minister on July 24, he replied: ‘I think that there is one way to do this thing now. 

‘If I may venture a cricketing metaphor, I think we’ve had quite a lot of Boycott on the wicket and it is time for Botham to come in. That is my view.

Mrs May, pictured in Osaka Japan today, has repeatedly referred to Geoffrey Boycott, the England cricket legend, as her sporting hero

‘Particularly in the EU negotiations, we cannot have the same old, same old. 

‘We cannot have a can-kicking approach. We kick the can, we will kick the bucket, we’ve got to get on and do this.’

Mrs May referenced her admiration for Mr Boycott at a press conference last November. 

She was asked at the time whether she would be able to ‘deliver the runs’ for Britain on Brexit. 

Boris Johnson visited a farm in Milnthorpe (above) where he was seen stroking a cow on his campaign to become the next Prime Minister

Mr Johnson is pictured giving the cow some feed on the campaign trail. At the hustings he pointed towards having ‘over delivered’ on his promises as mayor, the 2012 Olympics and his record on action in the wake of the Salisbury spy attack

The former foreign secretary warned the Conservative Party members in attendance that the Tories would ‘kick the bucket’ unless they adopted a different approach

She said: ‘Can I just say that you might recall from previous comments I have made about cricket that one of my cricket heroes was always Geoffrey Boycott. 

‘And what did you know about Geoffrey Boycott? Geoffrey Boycott stuck to it and he got the runs in the end.’  

Mrs May has frequently been accused of ‘can kicking’ during her time in Number 10 with her critics claiming she always wanted to delay making the big decisions. 

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson also insisted he is reliable enough to succeed Mrs May. 

A member of the audience in Carlisle questioned whether the former mayor of London could be trusted with the ‘great lady Britannia’ because of concerns about his ‘chequered private life’.

A man asked: ‘We know a lot of people have a worry about reliability with Boris and I think that’s the Achilles’ heel, with the chequered private life, can we trust you with the great lady Britannia?’ Mr Johnson replied: ‘Don’t look at what I say I do, look at what I do’

English cricketing royalty, Mr Boycott developed a reputation as a conservative batsman who scored runs slowly and methodically 

Sir Ian Botham, pictured during his playing days during an England match against Sri Lanka in 1992, was known for his flamboyant playing style and all-round cricketing ability

A man asked: ‘We know a lot of people have a worry about reliability with Boris and I think that’s the Achilles’ heel, with the chequered private life, can we trust you with the great lady Britannia?’

Mr Johnson replied: ‘Don’t look at what I say I do, look at what I do.’

He pointed towards having ‘over delivered’ on his promises as mayor, the 2012 Olympics and his record on action in the wake of the Salisbury spy attack.

‘If you want to know about my ability to get jobs done just look at what I have done,’ he added.