Malcolm’s father, Albert, died aged 75 in hospital on April 4, two days after testing positive for coronavirus. He had been admitted on March 29 with a bladder infection. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Malcolm, who took 128 Test wickets for England, said: “It’s so difficult when a loved one is admitted to hospital and you are told you can’t visit, you can’t be there for them.

“Later on when I got the call to say he had passed, it was a very, very weird feeling. I’m trying to come to terms with it but it’s going to be really difficult.”

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According to Malcolm, his father was in “good fettle” when he last saw him, shortly before nationwide social distancing measures were introduced last month.

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“It’s surreal – you’re told he’s responding well so you think everything is all right, then next you hear you’re told to prepare for the worst and then 20 minutes later, he’s gone,” Malcolm added. “We have a date for the funeral but the process is so different now to going through a bereavement in the past. There are only five people plus the vicar allowed at the graveside.

“We’re hoping in the future when we get back to some normality, we can possibly do a proper service, celebrating his life with all his grandkids and his friends.”