A 17-year-old club cricketer, Ben Austin, tragically passed away after being struck on the neck by a ball during a training session in Melbourne earlier this week.
The incident occurred at the Ferntree Gully, where Ben was preparing for an upcoming T20 match.
According to ESPNcricinfo, reports said the teenager was facing deliveries thrown using a sidearm device when one delivery hit his neck.
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Although he was wearing a helmet, it lacked a stem guard — a safety attachment designed to protect the vulnerable area below the helmet.
He was immediately rushed to Monash Children’s Hospital in critical condition and placed on life support but succumbed to his injuries two days later.
In a heartfelt statement, Ben’s father, Jace Austin, said the family was “utterly devastated” by the loss of their beloved son.
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“For Tracey and I, Ben was an adored son, deeply loved brother to Cooper and Zach and a shining light in the lives of our family and friends,” he said.
“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down to the nets with mates to play cricket. He loved cricket and it was one of the joys of his life,” he added.
He also extended sympathy to Ben’s teammate who was bowling during the session, saying, “We would also like to support his team-mate who was bowling in the nets – this accident has impacted two young men and our thoughts are with he and his family as well.”
Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket Victoria expressed deep sorrow over the incident and offered full support to the grieving family and the local club.
CA Chair Mike Baird said, “Cricket is a sport that brings people together, communities together. It’s also one that feels very deeply an incident such as we’ve seen. What we want to say is that we are doing everything we can to support the family, the club, and all those impacted by this tragic news.”
Nick Cummins, CEO of Cricket Victoria, said the tragedy had deeply shaken the entire Victorian cricket community.
“We are doing everything we can to support not just the family of young Ben, but also those at the club, and Ben played for a number of clubs, to ensure that they have the counselling and the support, not just today, but well into the future, as this is something that will stay with our community for some time,” he said.
Cummins compared the unfortunate event to the death of Phil Hughes nearly 11 years ago, noting that it was too soon to discuss possible changes to safety measures such as making stem guards mandatory.
“At the moment, our focus is around providing support and counselling for those people who experienced the trauma,” he added.
Following Ben’s passing, his club and teammates paid tribute with flowers, handwritten notes, and a cricket bat inscribed with messages like “Rest easy, Benny” and “Forever 14 not out.”
In a statement, the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said, “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family – Jace, Tracey, Cooper and Zach, his extended family, his friends and to all of those who knew Ben and the joy that he brought.”
Ben was remembered as a talented young cricketer and a natural leader.
Earlier this year, he received a sportsmanship award recognizing his dedication and positive attitude toward the game.
The Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association President, Arnie Walters, said the community would continue to support the clubs and Ben’s family during this painful time.
The Austin family also expressed gratitude to emergency responders, hospital staff, and the cricket community for their support.
“We would ask that our family’s privacy is respected as we come to terms with our loss,” they said, asking for privacy as they cope with their loss.
A tribute for Ben is expected to be held during the upcoming Australia vs India T20I match at the MCG.
