Sir Geoffrey Boycott ended his spell as a commentator, leaving BBC's 'Test match special' after 14 years of association.
The former England batsman had a quadruple heart bypass and said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic effectively made the decision for him.
Boycott, who scored 8,114 runs in 108 Tests, had the operation back in 2018.
"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," he tweeted on Friday (June 5).
"My contract with BBC finished the end of last summer. I would (have) loved to continue but need to be realistic & honest with myself. COVID-19 has made the decision for both of us."
Boycott said he would love to make occasional appearances to the commentary box, however.
"Recently I had a quadruple heart by-pass and at 79 am the wrong age to be commentating in a bio secure area trapped all day in confined spaces with the same people- even if some of those commentators I regard as friends and others I admire."
"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 To everyone out there Be sensible Stay alive Your life is precious," he concluded.
In a statement, director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, said: "Geoffrey has been an iconic voice in our Test Match Special box for 14 years."
"While we wish the circumstances were different, we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank him for his contribution to our cricket commentary over the years and we're still hoping to hear his unique cricketing insight at some point on TMS this summer."
