Geoffrey Boycott declares ‘brilliant’ Theresa May will ‘show her mettle’ as she frees Britain from the European Union

THERESA May will be the new Maggie as she delivers Brexit and frees Britain from “stupid” EU rules – Geoffrey Boycott declared today.

The Test Match legend – idolised by the PM as a youngster- said she had “more strokes” than he ever possessed during his career at the crease.

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And speaking to the media in New Delhi the stubborn Yorkshireman said Mrs May was the ideal person to lead the country during the “tough” spell that lies in wait for the UK.

But he urged her to see it through to make sure the UK is no longer run from “France and Germany”.

Mr Boycott is in India ahead of the start of the first test match with England on Wednesday.

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The Brexit-backer said: “She'll be like Margaret Thatcher, she'll be brilliant.

“She's good, she doesn't need my advice, she'll be fine.

"She's got a few more strokes than me."

He added: “She has views and she's strong. Life is about integrity and principles - it should be.

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“We want politicians like that with integrity, with principles, with honesty."

“She's got the Prime Minister's job at a very tough juncture in our history, the change and all that's going to happen in the next two or three years.

“It would be very tough for whoever was Prime Minister, she's got it at a very difficult time.

"I was told by a lady who wrote me a wonderful letter before she died many years ago - a big supporter of mine - that 'adversity never breaks a good man; it finds him down like gold to rise up again a better person'.

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"She'll show her mettle, won't she?"

Asked about David Cameron, Boycott replied: "I need to improve his batting.";

Typically private, Theresa May has repeatedly declared her admiration for the opener – who was famed for his slow run rate.

When Home Secretary she extolled his reputation for being a batsman “whose priority was the occupation of the crease, fastidiously accumulating runs at a snail’s pace”.