A 17-year-old Australian cricketer died after a tragic on-field accident during practice.
Melbourne
Australian cricket was struck by tragedy after 17-year-old Ben Austin died following a freak accident during practice at Ferntree Gully, a suburb of Melbourne. The teenager was batting in the nets — enclosed practice pitches — when he was struck on the neck by a ball on Tuesday, collapsing in front of his shocked teammates.
Local cricket officials said Austin was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club confirmed his death on Thursday, saying, “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben. The impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone who knew the joy he brought.”
According to Ringwood and District Cricket Association president Michael Finn, Austin was warming up when the incident occurred. “Medical assistance was provided immediately by people at the ground until paramedics arrived,” he said.
A statement from Austin’s father, Jace Austin, released by Cricket Australia, described the immense loss: “This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing what he loved — playing cricket with his mates. We also wish to support the teammate who was bowling, as this has deeply affected two young men.”
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins said Austin had been wearing a helmet and the ball struck his neck in a manner reminiscent of the fatal 2014 accident that claimed Phillip Hughes, who died after being hit near the ear during a domestic match.
The incident has reignited discussions around player safety and protective gear standards in cricket.
