Egypt balloon crash probe rules out criminal activity.............

Cairo: Egypt Wednesday ruled out any "criminal activity" in the tragic hot air balloon crash near Luxor in which 19 people, mostly Asian and European tourists, were killed.
"Initial results of the investigations conducted by Luxor Public Prosecution asserted that there were no criminal suspicions in the crash and the fall of the tourist hot air balloon in South Luxor yesterday," the state-run MENA news agency said.

The balloon was at 1,000 ft (300 metres) when it caught fire and exploded, plunging onto sugarcane fields west of Luxor yesterday. 

Passengers in the balloon included 19 foreign tourists, from Hong Kong, France, Japan and Britain. An Egyptian pilot and another Egyptian were also on board. 

The probes are being held under Luxor and Qena Attorney General Counselor Mohammad Fahmi. Four teams of investigators have been formed to inspect the scene of the balloon crash and listen to witnesses in the surrounding area as well as inspect the corpses of the victims. 

A technical committee of the aviation departent was also formed to inspect the take-off and fall locations of the balloon and review the licenses of Sky Cruise company which operates the balloon tours. 

The committee has also examined the balloon debris to know the reasons behind it catching of fire and falling of the balloon. 

Luxor Prosecution has ordered the transfer of the 19 bodies from Luxor International Hospital morgue to Cairo to undergo DNA tests. 

Civil Aviation Minister Wael al-Maadawi also ruled out the possibility of criminal activity behind the crash. 

He said yesterday that his ministry agreed to a request by the British authorities to attend the ongoing probe into the hot air balloon crash. 

The minister said bodies of victims were carried by a military aircraft to Cairo to hand them over to their embassies. 

A committee from the the Civil Aviation Ministry has inspected the air balloon tour operator "Sky Cruise" on February 13, 14 and 15, Maadawi said, adding that the company passed the inspection. 

There are only 10 companies operating balloon flights in Egypt, he said, making it clear that they are all subjected to routine inspection. 

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in Luxor moved the two wounded persons in the crash to Cairo. 

The ministry said it transferred the two wounded from Luxor's International Hospital to Nasir Institute in Cairo because of the seriousness of their conditions. The governor of Luxor Ezzat Saad had banned all hot-air balloon flights after the tragedy. - See more at: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/egypt-balloon-crash-probe-rules-out-criminal-activity_831964.html#sthash.3isOnaFL.dpuf

Most Awaited Bikes of 2013.....

Indian motorcycle scenario is taking a turn for the better this year. A slew of launches are lined up in the 2-wheeler space but which are the 5 most anticipated machines to grace our shores?
KTM will launch the 390 Duke in India by mid-2013. This motorcycle will be powered by a 373cc engine producing 44 PS of power and 35 Nm of torque.

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The 111kmpl Volkswagen XL1.....

After working on the idea for over a decade, Volkswagen has revealed the near-production version of the XL1, a two-seat, plug-in diesel hybrid designed to be the world's most energy-efficient automobile. VW estimates the XL1 can get up to 111 kilometre per litre — although with a time to 100 kmph of 12.7 seconds, it won't get there quickly

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Volkswagen has announced the production of the world's most fuel efficient car - designed like a futuristic motor and capable of an incredible 111 kmpl.

Injured pacer Bird ruled out of India Test series..........

Hyderabad: Injured Australian speedster Jackson Bird has been ruled out of the remaining three Test matches against India due to a bone stress injury on his back sustained during the first warm-up game of the ongoing series.

"Initial tests performed in Melbourne have confirmed that Jackson Bird has a bone stress injury of the low back," team doctor Peter Brukner was quoted as saying.

"He will undergo further tests tomorrow (Thursday). He will not be re-joining the team in India."

Bird played in the first warm-up game of the tour against Board President`s XI and bowled 10 economic overs giving away only 10 runs.

A likely recovery time will not be known until Bird has further tests but it is a worrying development for Australia in an Ashes year, given how well his accurate seam-bowling style could translate to English conditions.

The loss of Bird leaves Australia with a 16-man squad ahead of the second Test, which starts in Hyderabad on Saturday.

At this stage, the selectors have not decided on whether to send a replacement player to join the group, leaving Mitchell Johnson as the only extra fast bowler in the group besides those who played in the first Test. 

Sports Minister writes to IOC seeking review on wrestling........

New Delhi: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday wrote to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), urging the world body`s Executive Board to reconsider its decision to remove wrestling from the 2020 Summer Games roster.

In the letter, which has been addressed to IOC president Jacques Rogge, the minister said the decision to exclude wrestling from the 25 core sports needs to be revisited.

The letter highlighted the achievements of Indian grapplers in the quadrennial event and described wrestling as a popular sport not only in India but also in many other countries.

"The sports minister today wrote a letter to the IOC president Jacques Rogge and urged him to look into the matter and find out ways through which sports can win back its place in the 2020 Olympics," sports secretary Pradeep Kumar Deb told PTI.

Last week also, the sports secretary had written a letter to India`s representative in the IOC Randhir Singh and asked him to urgently take up the matter with the Executive Board and request the world body to reconsider its decision.

Wrestling, which combines freestyle and greco-roman events, has always been a core sport from the first Olympics. India has won four medals at the Games in wrestling.

The IOC Executive Board, in a meeting, left wrestling out of the 25 core sports to be proposed for approval for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in the 125th IOC Session to be held in September in Argentina. - See more at: http://zeenews.india.com/sports/others/sports-minister-writes-to-ioc-seeking-review-on-wrestling_757175.html#sthash.mldmpQbe.dpuf

MCC calls for inclusion of T20 cricket in 2024 Olympic Games..........

London: MCC`s world cricket committee has called for the inclusion of Twenty20 cricket at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Cricket, having received full Olympic recognition in 2010, stands a chance of being included in future games, but will have to apply to be on the programme.

The earliest the International Cricket Council (ICC) can apply for cricket to feature at an Olympic Games is 2024.

Following a two-day meeting in Auckland, the MCC world cricket committee said that financial losses the game might suffer from the sport being in the Olympics would be outweighed by the exposure the game will get.

Cricket has appeared in the Games at the 1900 Paris Olympics, when Britain beat France by 158 runs. 
- See more at: http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/mcc-calls-for-inclusion-of-t20-cricket-in-2024-olympic-games_757180.html#sthash.KbtNKZgH.dpuf

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Ronaldo demolishes hosts to book Copa final berth..........

Barcelona: Real Madrid stormed into the Copa del Rey final in the most stunning manner possible, with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou in the second leg of their last-four clash on Tuesday.

With a 1-1 home draw to overcome from the first leg, Jose Mourinho looked on in jubilation as his team executed their gameplan to perfection, frustrating the Catalans at the back, and through an inspirational Cristiano Ronaldo, giving a counter-attacking clinic up front. 

The Portuguese opened the scoring from the penalty spot 12 minutes in, becoming the first player to score in six successive Clasicos away from home, and finished off a surging break shortly before the hour mark to put Madrid in the driving seat. 

Raphael Varane put the finishing touches on an unbelievable night for the visitors when he headed home a corner, with Jordi Alba`s late goal coming as little consolation for the hosts.

Los Blancos now await either Sevilla or Atletico Madrid in the showpiece event on May 18. 
Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi returned to start in midfield for the hosts, with Carles Puyol partnering Gerard Pique in defence. For Madrid, Varane, the standout performer from the first leg, started alongside Sergio Ramos at centre-back.

Barca started positively, and with only two minutes on the clock, were nearly ahead. Pedro did brilliantly to turn Fabio Coentrao inside out and square for Lionel Messi, who narrowly missed the target from a tight angle.

But instead, it would be Madrid who would take the lead. Ronaldo was simply too quick for Pique, and was tripped up inside the area, leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty, from which the Portuguese forward slotted coolly into the bottom corner.

The Catalans exhibited their customary dominance of the ball, but Mourinho’s men were ready with discipline and numbers at the back, and a pacey threat on the counter whenever they won possession.

Referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco?, already the villain of the piece in the eyes of the Camp Nou faithful for the decision against Pique, was showered with further vitriol from the stands after correctly denying penalty appeals for Fabregas and Pedro.

And the home fans were left frustrated again moments before half-time, when Messi drilled a free kick agonisingly into the side netting, with half of the stadium already celebrating a goal.

The Blaugrana went close again minutes after the restart when Diego Lopez parried an effort by Busquets, with Alvaro Arbeloa taking the rebound off the toes of Fabregas from point blank range.

But much like the start of the first half, the chance was spurned, and again, Madrid would punish their profligacy on the counter-attack, this time putting the tie virtually out of reach.

Sami Khedira’s sublime first-time pass after winning the ball released Angel Di Maria against Puyol. The Barca captain was left on his backside by the skill of the winger, whose initial shot was parried by Jose Pinto, only for Ronaldo to bury the rebound. 

And with 22 minutes left, Madrid were in dreamland again, when Varane rose highest to head home Mesut Ozil’s corner in almost identical fashion to his goal in the first leg.

Flares were set off in the stands as a few home fans lost patience with events on the pitch, but their mood improved ever so slightly just before injury time when Alba ghosted in behind the full-back to slot Andres Iniesta`s clipped pass beyond Lopez. 

But the damage was long done by the irrepressible visitors, who will now contest the final in three months. The Clasico drama is not quite done, however, as both sides will lock horns at Santiago Bernabeu in la Liga on Saturday.

IRCTC fined Rs 10L for selling soft drinks above MRP......

New Delhi: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been slapped with a fine of Rs 10 lakh by a consumer forum here for selling soft drinks above the maximum retail price (MRP) to two customers.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum imposed "punitive compensation" of Rs 5 lakh each in two separate cases against IRCTC, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, and said being a government corporation, "it is not expected to be deficient in such matters and cannot come down to level of private dealers".

"We have considered the case in the perspective of unfair and restrictive trade practices, by a government company who supply food articles to millions of rail users, who in transit cannot protest or have little choice but to avail services at whatever cost.

"The IRCTC being a government corporation is not expected to be deficient in such matters and cannot come down to level of private dealers," a bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.

The forum directed IRCTC to deposit a fine of Rs 10 lakh with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority and also awarded compensation of Rs 10,000 each to the two passengers, Delhi residents Sachin Dhiman and Sharnya.

"Keeping in view, the gravity and scale of gain by overcharging in 24x7 Railway operations all over India, we award punitive compensation of Rs five lakh to be deposited by IRCTC with Delhi State Legal Services Authority and we award compensation of Rs 10,000 (each) to complainant(s)," it said.

The two complainants had alleged that a retail outlet of IRCTC had sold each of them a bottle of Maaza having MRP of Rs 12 for Rs 15.

IRCTC, which handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the railways, proceeded against ex-parte as no one appeared on its behalf. 

Varun Gandhi exonerated in 2009 hate speech case.....

Pilibhit: In a major relief for BJP Member of Parliament (MP) from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi, a local court on Wednesday acquitted him in one of the hate speech cases. 

Hearing into another case is scheduled to take place on March 1. 

Welcoming the verdict, Varun Gandhi thanked the people of UP and Pilibhit who elected him. 

"I welcome the decision of the honourable court that upholds my commitment to a strong and united India," Mr Gandhi tweeted after the ruling. 

Varun Gandhi had reportedly made inflammatory remarks against Muslims in Pilibhit in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. 

Varun was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the People's Representative Act for "promoting enmity" and acts "prejudicial to maintenance of harmony", 

However, he strongly denied the charges, claiming that in one instance he was referring to bad elements and in the second one, the tapes have been doctored. 

Varun Gandhi, great-grandson of the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, won the Lok Sabha election from the Pilibhit seat. 

The young BJP leader has been accused by then chief minister Mayawati and her government of promoting enmity between groups on the grounds of religion. 

What the Economic Survey 2013 tells us....

The good news first. The economy is in fair health, if not in fine fettle. Growth rate is projected between 6.1% and 6.7%. So, while this is clearly not like the heady days of 8-9% growth, at least the slowdown won’t contract the economy any further. 

This would also mean that the downturn is more or less over. 

Industry and financial experts have welcomed the Finance Minister’s attempt to contain fiscal deficit at 5.3%, rather than letting it bloat to over 6% as was predicted by the Kelkar report. 


While medium term fiscal consolidation measures have been found credible and doable, there is greater scepticism on methods of achieving short term targets. 

Tax collection is looking shockingly poor, which indicates that tightening of fiscal belt is likely to come from expenditure cuts or postponement, both of which are not very sound policy methods. 

Rationalisation and widening the base of taxes is therefore recommended. This means smarter slabs and better track and enforcement methods are needed. Indications are that corporate taxes may go up, as an anxious attempt to recover more money. 
Another much needed technique could be to slash subsidies, particularly our oil bill. The Economic Survey recommends exactly that – increasing diesel and LPG prices by cutting subsidies. But with 2014 round the corner and the middle class already reeling under regular fuel price hikes, it may be a difficult decision to push through.

One more method to cut the current account deficit as suggested by the Survey is curbing gold imports. The way to do it is to impose higher customs duty, which would push prices up further from the current Rs 30,000/10 gm levels.

The Economic Survey is bullish on reforms and says the government needs to stay the course, if it aspires to continue to grow at 6+%. It also emphasises on the need to tackle inflation, when headline WPI is still around 6.2-6.6%.

While our investment rate has not fallen, production and productivity look to have stagnated. One area that needs immediate attention is removal of supply side constraints. For this our energy needs have to be addressed and infrastructure bottlenecks removed. 

One reason for the slowdown in the past two years has been the recession in global markets. To push exports, the government may have to dole out more sops. 

Easing or minimising regulations so as to boost investment may be a way forward. 

The Economic Survey further recommends: “Measures to ease the inflow of remittances and steps to diversify software exports could help reduce financing needs. Greater emphasis on FDI including opening up sectors further can help increase the quantum of safe financing. FII flows need to be targeted towards longer term rupee instruments so as to minimize the `reversal` of capital during risk-off phases.” 

On the demand front, it may look like contraction is a worry, as per the Economic Survey, but financial experts are more sanguine. Naina Lal Kidwai in an interview to a news channel pointed to healthy performances of FMCG companies as an indicator that appetite for consumption remains. 

She felt FDI in Retail will boost both investment and help grow demand. 

Kidwai echoed another sentiment that is waiting to see realization for a long time. The roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), she feels, would instantly add 2% to our growth rate.

Experts also feel that the government may make loans cheaper and especially so for the Small and Medium size industries to give the economy and consumption a further boost. 

A new chapter has been added for the first time on job creation with focus on quality jobs. With India showing the highest increase in share of services in GDP at 8.1%, this is obviously a welcome move. 

Healthcare, education and social entrepreneurship need to grow through PPP, as per the Survey. If Indian Railways can go the PPP way, then certainly the social sector can experiment as well. 

Clearly, the economy is poised but we need to step on the gas to push reforms and difficult decisions need to be taken. 

The bullet needs to be bitten. 

I am not obsessed with brands: Sridevi ...

New Delhi: Sridevi flaunted saris in her comeback movie ‘English Vinglish’ and looked pretty. The actress says in real life too she prefers Indian clothes, especially six yards, and she is not a brand person.

"Well, definitely I love good brands, but at the same time I am not obsessed with them. I go for anything as long as it looks good on me. I am definitely someone who prefers Indian clothes especially saris," the 49-year-old said.

The actress was in the capital to inaugurate the third edition of Design One, an exhibition organised by Sahachari Foundation. The two-day exhibition started at The Lodhi (formerly known as The Aman) here Wednesday.

Dressed up in Sabyasachi Mukherjee`s anarkali suit, she came in a cab that belonged to Sakha Cabs, taxi service which provides lady drivers.

This was not the first time that she opted for Sabyasachi designs. 

Talking about her fascination for the designer, she said: "I always like him and from `English Vinglish` days, I really started liking his clothes. My favourites are Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi and of course, few more designers but these two really come first."

And what about her beauty secret?

"I am very health conscious. I also try to be happy and positive all the time. Also, one should check their diet," said the actress, who is married to filmmaker Boney Kapoor with whom she has two daughters - Jhanvi and Khushi.

The actress, who had a filmography of over 200 movies, made a grand Bollywood comeback last year with Gauri Shinde`s directorial debut ‘English Vinglish’. Recently she was named for the Padma Shri.

However, she says that acting was never a planned thing for her.

"Acting was never planned. I came to Chennai only for studies because my father was a lawyer and he was practising there. He always wanted me to study. So from Madurai, we shifted to Chennai only for the studies. 

"When I was child, I got the offer from Sando Chinnappa Thevar and then things starting falling into my lap. I was the busiest child star doing three shifts a day. Then I became heroine, when I was 11 years and since then, there has bee no looking back," she said.

So what next?

"Nothing I am reading scripts and meeting people. If anything interesting will come across, I will say yes. I want the makers and directors to decide if I am good for the particular role or not."

Kareena Kapoor finds a mention in Amitabh Bachchan’s blog.........

Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan is not just a world renowned actor but also an avid writer. The 70-year-old megastar, who is quite active on social media, reminisced an event of the long past and decided to pen it down.

Recalling an episode while shooting for ‘Pukar’ with Kareena Kapoor’s father Randhir in 1983, the actor wrote, “She in her innocence had run on to the set in the outdoors and clung to her father to protect him from this ‘evil’ man who was beating him up … She soiled her pretty little feet in the sand and I washed her tiny feet clean ... She still remembers that moment!!”

Big B had worked with Kareena Kapoor in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ and will now share the frame with her again in Prakash Jha’s ‘Satyagraha’.

The Bachchan and the Kapoor families shared an estranged relationship after Karisma (elder sister of Kareena) and Abhishek (son of Big B) called off their engagement. But now, the two families seem to have let bygones be bygones and moved on. 

OPEN CHALLENGE.... :p

First glimpse of genius lost forever.......

Mumbai, Feb. 27 -- It was a feat the cricket world has taken note of. Ironically, there remains no official record of the same today in the backyard of where it was achieved.

Twenty-five years ago, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli made their mark in the world of cricket by amassing 664 runs - the highest partnership for any wicket in any class of cricket.

Tendulkar and Kambli set the record on February 24, 1988 for their school Shardashram Vidyamandir against St Xavier's in a Harris Shield match in the tournament organised by the Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA).

Today, the MSSA claims that the original score-sheet of that match has been done away with and the association does not have the original of this historic feat.

Seen as an instance, which gave 14-year-old Tendulkar and Kambli their first brush with fame, the partnership is also thought to be one of the defining moments of the former's progression into cricketing lore.

However, according to the MSSA, the game was like any other school game and the score-sheet was incinerated alongside other such old documents.

"The score-sheet was kept along with all the other records of games, and has since been incinerated as we could not store them all. You cannot expect us to store files that are 25 years old," stated MSSA cricket secretary HS Bhor.

In spite of it being an important landmark in cricketing history, Bhor simply said that, "the score-sheet was like a sheet from any other match."

Though the original score-sheet doesn't exist, the details from it are maintained , Marcus Couto, co-founder of the Association of Statisticians and Scorers of India. After he brought the record to light in 1988, it got a mention in the Wisden Almanac.

The 'Titanic' name to sail again.......

Australian mining entrepreneur Clive Palmer on 26 February 2013 unveiled blueprints for Titanic II, a modern replica of the doomed ocean liner, although he stopped short of calling the vessel unsinkable. The ship will largely recreate the design and decor of the fabled original, with some modifications to keep it in line with current safety rules and shipbuilding practices. Palmer hoped construction would begin later this year, and that the maiden voyage, recreating the trans-Atlantic crossing of the original, would take place in 2016.

An undated artist's rendering of the proposed cruise ship Titanic II, provided by the Blue Star Line as Australian billionaire Clive Palmer unveiled plans for his dream ship during a news conference in New York on February 26, 2013. The cruise ship will be built by the CSC Jingling Shipyard in China, and will sail from Southampton, England to New York on her maiden voyage in late 2016 according to Palmer.

Natural wonders–Green tea.......

Enough and beyond has been written about green tea and its numerous health benefits. How exactly does it help your body? Read on to find out

Green tea and its nutrients

All kinds of tea, be it black, green or oolong, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The colour of the tea depends upon the amount of fermentation it has been through. Oolong tea is partially fermented, black tea is completely fermented and green tea is not fermented at all. It is produced by steaming fresh tea leaves at very high temperature.

That tea is rich in antioxidants is a given, but green tea is known to contain large amounts of polyphenols, thearubigins, epicatechins and catechins – all types of an antioxidant known as flavanoids.

Green tea and its health benefits

Heart healthy: Regular consumption of green tea has been known to reduce overall cholesterol levels, especially the bad LDL cholesterol which ultimately reduces the risk of heart attacks and heart diseases.

Fights cancer: Catechins present in green tea, are the flavanoids which fight free radicals that damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Since green tea is not put through a whole lot of processing, catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are available in larger numbers.

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Drink Red Wine: Red wine is made from skin of grapes which contains resveratrol and other phytochemicals that have antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. Researches show that a glass of wine a ... more 

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Helps you lose weight: Can a simple activity like drinking green tea help you lose weight? Recent studies show that catechins help combat accumulated fat and aid in weight loss. Experts say that this fat reducing property catechins can help in a number of lifestyle disease, including obesity.

Boosts your immune system: The antioxidants in green tea help give your immune system a boost of good health which helps keep common ailments like the flu away.

Happy teeth: Catechins are also antibacterial, which is why they are so great in fighting tooth decay, gum diseases and bad breath. Additionally, they also reduce the formation of plaque.

Prevents diabetes: Preliminary studies show that green tea may help to prevent or at the very least, slow down the onset of diabetes. The same study also suggested that green tea acts a very good agent in lowering your blood sugar.

Improves bone health: Studies show that not only can drinking green tea help improve bone density and help reduce the risk of a fracture, it also encourages bone formation.

Reduces the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s: Research shows that polyphenols  present in green tea helps in improving concentration, prevents memory loss and helps reduce the accumulation of brain damaging proteins in your body.

 Great for your skin: Not just as a drink, skin care products with green tea extracts are also wonderful for your skin as it helps your skin stay supple. The antioxidants in green tea are also known to help keep wrinkles at bay.

Experts suggest anywhere from 2-5 cups daily can help you rake in maximum benefit from this natural wonder. Try the decaffeinated version if you’re worried about the caffeine.

How to Get Smooth SkinHaving smooth skin doesn't have to be reserved for infants. Follow these easy beauty tips and can get your skin silky smooth like a baby's bottom.

So are you ready to ditch your coffee for this healthy cuppa?

RUBIX CUBES IN SPACE?...

Rubiks Cubes in Space? NASA selects 24 four-inch cube satellites, including three from JPL, to fly as auxiliary payloads in 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

Full list of winning CubeSat proposals: http://go.nasa.gov/Wf0tjw

RARE PIC :)

English batsman 'on drugs when killed': inquest........

One of English cricket's rising stars died after being electrocuted on a railway line then struck by a train as he attempted to flee police while on drink and drugs, a coroner's inquest was told Tuesday. 

Surrey batsman Tom Maynard, widely regarded as a future England international, was found dead near Wimbledon Park station on the London Underground network in the early morning on June 18 last year. 

The 23-year-old son of former England batsman Matthew Maynard was electrocuted after stepping on a live track before he was hit by a train, causing him to die from multiple injuries, Westminster Coroner's Court in central London heard. 

Maynard had earlier been stopped by police nearby after his black Mercedes was seen driving erratically but he then fled the vehicle and left his keys in the ignition. 

A post-mortem examination revealed alcohol levels in his body four times above the legal limit for drivers and that he had taken cocaine and ecstasy in the form of MDMA after a night out with his two flatmates. 

Tests on hair samples indicated Maynard may have been a regular drug user for as long as three-and-a-half months before his death, the inquest heard. 

Forensic pathologist Simon Poole told the inquest that it was impossible to say whether electrocution or the impact of the train had killed Maynard. 

Cardiff-born Maynard, who came through the ranks at Glamorgan, where his father had been a key player and later a coach, was a member of the second-string England Lions squad that toured Bangladesh and Sri Lanka last year. 

A formal verdict on his death has yet to be given. 

In England and Wales, inquests are held to examine sudden or unexplained deaths and can record any one of a number of possible verdicts including suicide or misadventure. They do not apportion blame. 

In a statement issued Tuesday via the Professional Cricketers' Association, the Maynard family urged that Tom's life not be defined by the evidence heard at the inquest. 

"The results of the inquest do not define our son," the statement said, adding: "The fact that so very many people thought the world of him is what defines him as a person. 

"The only people who would judge Tom on the findings of the inquest are people who didn't know him. 

"He made choices that night that tragically cost him his life but his devastated family and friends will love and miss him unconditionally, always. 

"He was a very special person and his death leaves a huge hole in all our lives."