A cricketer has died after being struck by a ball during a match in Surrey.

Bavalan Pathmanathan, 24, was batting for Manipay Parish Sports Club in the British Tamil League on Sunday.

An air ambulance was called for Pathmanathan, but he later passed away due to the injures that he sustained.

"When he received the hit I asked from the other end if he is alright. He gave a thumb-up and nodded to indicate he was alright, while pressing his chest. He took a couple of steps behind the stumps and collapsed," one of his teammates told the Colombo Mirror.

"He was such a talented and composed cricketer and a darling friend of all of us. Every one of us is going through terrible pain as a result of this terrible loss."

The incident is reminiscent of the death of Australia batsman Phil Hughes, who died in November after being struck on the head by a ball.