The 79-year-old former England batsman said he would have been interested in continuing but added that the coronavirus pandemic had essentially made the decision for him following his recent quadruple heart by-pass. Writing on social media, Boycott said: “ I would like to thank @bbctms @BBCSport for a wonderful 14 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and just love cricket with a passion. I also wish to thank all those that have said how much they have enjoyed my commentary and for those that haven’t – too bad. “My contract with BBC finished end of last summer. I would loved to continue but need to be realistic & honest with myself. Covid -19 has made the decision for both of us.” Boycott added that he was the “wrong age” to be working in confined spaces due to social distancing regulations. The former Yorkshire batsman, who was knighted last year, has been a regular on TMS since 2005. Though his contract is now over, Boycott hinted he could still make the occasional appearance on the airwaves in the future. Referring to his long-time colleague Jonathan Agnew, he wrote: “ Hopefully I may still have some input @bbctms if that tall lanky ex Leicestershire medium pace bowler needs an honest appraisal or wants to take the mickey out of me maybe he will give me a call while on air.” The BBC will show highlights from England’s Test and one-day international fixtures this summer. England will play a three-match behind-closed-doors Test series against the West Indies next month, with games against Pakistan, Australia and Ireland scheduled for later in the summer but awaiting confirmation. The highlights programme - fronted by World Cup winner Isa Guha - will be on BBC2. In taking over from Channel 5, it will be the first time Test cricket in England has featured on the channel since 1998. Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Sir Alastair Cook will provide analysis. Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well. Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade. And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help. Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing subscriptions@jpimedia.co.uk. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available. If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country. Sincerely. Thank you. James Mitchinson, Editor