An inquest has been formally opened this morning into the death of a promising young cricketer, who police said was "electrocuted" on the District Line tracks in Wimbledon Park.

Surrey batsmen Tom Maynard, who lived in Wandsworth, was killed after being hit by a train just after 5am on Monday, June 18, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the cricket world.

After driving “erratically” down Arthur Road, Mr Maynard, 23, was stopped by police in Ryfold Road, next to the Wimbledon mosque, and prompted a 45-minute manhunt after he fled on foot.

He had been struck by a District Line travelling towards Southfields, but the British Transport Police (BTP) has distributed witness appeals in which they said Mr Maynard had been "electrocuted" by the live rail on the track.

To be electrocuted means to die because of an electric shock, but a BTP spokesman confirmed this morning they did not know whether the shock or the train collision had killed him.

The inquest was formally opened and adjourned at Westminster Coroner’s Court this morning, where the circumstances of exactly how Mr Maynard died will be established.

Yesterday, the BTP launched an appeal for information from Wimbledon Park residents, which confirmed Mr Maynard had been electrocuted by the live rail on the District Line.

The initial results of a forensic post mortem, conducted by a Home Office pathologist earlier this week, indicate that Mr Maynard suffered burn injuries as a result of coming into contact with the live rail.

He also suffered multiple injuries from being struck by the train.

Witnesses can contact the BTP by calling 0800 405040.