Australia and India’s women’s cricket teams wore black armbands during their World Cup semi-final in Mumbai to honour Ben Austin, the 17-year-old Melbourne cricketer who died after being struck in the neck by a ball during training at Ferntree Gully’s Wally Tew Reserve.
Image: India’s women’s cricket teams wore black armbands during their World Cup semi-final in Mumbai to honour Ben Austin (Source: BCCI – X)
Image: Australia and India’s women’s cricket teams wore black armbands during their World Cup semi-final in Mumbai to honour Ben Austin (Source: BCCI – X)
The teenager was hit while practising in the nets using a “wanger” — a ball-throwing device — and despite wearing a helmet, he was not wearing a neck guard. He was rushed to hospital but died two days later.
Across east Melbourne, families and players have placed cricket bats, helmets and flowers outside the nets in tribute to the talented and much-loved young player.
Image: Families and players have placed cricket bats, helmets and flowersto pay tribute to the talented and much-loved young player (Source: The Australia Today)
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The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club described Ben’s death as “absolutely devastating,” saying the impact of his passing “will be felt by all in our cricket community.” The club extended its condolences to Ben’s parents — Jace and Tracey — and brothers, Cooper and Zach, while asking the public to respect the family’s privacy.
Image: Ben Austin (Source: Facebook – Ferntree Gully Cricket Club)
The club also initiated the “Put your bats out for Benny 🏏” tribute, encouraging the community to display cricket bats on porches and driveways as a mark of respect.
Image: “Put your bats out for Benny” (Source: Facebook – Ferntree Gully Cricket Club)
In a further gesture of solidarity, the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and the Waverley Park Hawks Junior Football Club have launched a joint fundraiser to support the Austin family. “Our two clubs are coming together to provide whatever the family needs during this time,” organisers said.
“We welcome any donations, big or small, to help them along the way. All funds will be donated directly to the family.”
The tragedy has revived comparisons with the 2014 death of Phillip Hughes, who suffered a fatal neck injury during a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney. Following Hughes’s death, Cricket Australia made neck protectors mandatory for batters facing fast or medium-paced bowling. However, experts say compliance remains inconsistent, particularly in community and training settings.
Image: Dr Peter Brukner (Source: website)
Former Australian team doctor Dr Peter Brukner, who treated Hughes, said Austin’s death underscored the need to extend safety mandates across all levels of the sport — including training. “This is the third death in 30 years, and two of them have happened at training,” Dr Brukner told the ABC.
“If you’re batting to a ball being thrown in any way, you must wear a helmet with a neck guard.”
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird told the ABC that the organisation’s focus was on supporting the Austin family while acknowledging there were lessons to be learned.
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