The former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has been dropped as a commentator by the BBC pending the outcome of his appeal against a conviction in France for assaulting his ex-lover.

The ex-Yorkshire skipper had been expected to play a major role in the BBC's radio coverage of England's Winter Test Series against the West Indies, which starts this week.

But a BBC statement said he would be dropped from their Test Match Special commentary, broadcast live on Radio 4.

"While legal proceedings are still pending, the BBC feel it would be inappropriate for Geoffrey Boycott to appear on the BBC," said the statement.

Boycott, who is in the Caribbean, said: "We had a discussion and decided it was better to let the dust settle and assess the situation as we go along."

Margaret Moore: Boycott's ex-lover

He could still figure in BBC television's recorded daily Test match highlights.

The BBC says it will monitor the situation and review it after the first Test.

Boycott was given a three-month suspended sentence and fined 50,000 francs (£5,100) by a French court for repeatedly punching Margaret Moore at a hotel in the south of France in October 1996.

During the trial the court was told that Boycott pinned Mrs Moore down and punched her 20 times in the face before checking out and leaving her to pay the bill.

Boycott, who did not attend the court hearing, denied hitting her. He maintained she sustained only one injury, which had occurred when they slipped while grappling.

He said he had been trying to restrain her after she started throwing his belongings out of the window.

He said the situation had arisen over his refusal to marry her.

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