Bob Woolmer, the ex-Kent and England batsman, and ex-Pakistan and South Africa coach, is only just nicely 'back in the pavilion', but the tongues are already wagging as to how he died.

Police in the West Indies are investigating several claims that 'foul play' was to blame.

Chief Superintendent Chaka Demus told reporters amassed outside Pakistan's training camp today, that he was looking into claims that Mr Woolmer's balls had been tampered with.

"Pakistan are well-known for this kind of thing", he said. "It wouldn't be the first time, and we are treating this as a serious matter."

His assistant, PC Pliers, said:

"Shabba. Mr Woolmer always played a straight bat. There is no suggestion that he was doing anything else the night his balls were tampered with. Shabba."

The International Cricket Council (ICC), has said that it thought it had taken steps to make it harder to manipulate and disfigure balls, but admitted it was impossible to completely banish the practice from the game altogether.

The Pakistan cricket team management have denied any link with Mr Woolmer's death, and have refuted ball-tampering suggestions.

In 1987, Mike Gatting, who was thought at that time to be a 'sailor', suffered cheating allegations at the hands of Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana, but was cleared by a testicle investigator.

An autopsy on Mr Woolmer has been arranged for tomorrow, and any fondling of balls will be revealed soon thereafter.