There were a host of theories surrounding Mr Woolmer's death

But a British pathologist told the 11-member Jamaican jury he saw no sign of strangulation on Mr Woolmer's body.

The 58-year-old's death at this year's Cricket World Cup was originally treated as murder, with speculation it was linked to a match-fixing ring.

Police later said the former England Test cricketer died of natural causes.

It is thought that the inquest, which is to call more than 50 witnesses, will last for more than two months.

'No struggle'

Hotel maid Bernice Robinson - the first witness to be called - told the jury she saw blood on a pillow and smelled alcohol and vomit when she entered Mr Woolmer's Jamaican hotel room to clean it in March this year.

Ms Robinson said she then saw a man's leg sticking out of a bathroom door, which she could not open because it was blocked by Mr Woolmer's body.

In subsequent testimony, pathologist Nathaniel Cary said there was no evidence on the coach's body of a violent struggle.

The main purpose of the inquest is to determine the cause of Mr Woolmer's death.

Some reports suggest Jamaican police have still not ruled out foul play - and that the inquest will investigate whether anyone was responsible for his death.

'No poisoning'

Mr Woolmer was found dead in his hotel in Jamaica on 18 March after Pakistan were beaten in the first round of the competition by Ireland.

Days after the discovery of Mr Woolmer's body, Mark Shields - Jamaica's deputy police commissioner - announced at a news conference that they were treating the death as murder.

Every member of the Pakistan team was fingerprinted before returning home, sparking anger among many in Pakistan.

But in June, Jamaican Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said that three expert opinions had concluded that the original pathologist report of death by manual asphyxiation was wrong.

Mr Thomas also said that toxicology tests showed there was no substance to indicate poisoning.