The first coronial hearing into the 17-year-old’s death is set to be held on Friday after Ben was fatally struck in the neck with a cricket ball at training in October last year.
His father, Jace, said massive changes to the game of cricket is the last thing he or his late son would want.
“We want to make it clear: We don’t want another Benny or Phil Hughes, but we don’t want to change the game of cricket. It’s certainly not what Benny would want,” he told the Herald Sun.
“I’m a little bit worried about the coroner’s report. I hope they don’t come out with something unrealistic in their recommendations.
“We don’t want to have something ridiculous that changes the fabric of the game. Because this game is a safe and beautiful game, it really is.”
Ben was batting in the nets at Wally Tew Reserve on October 28 last year when he was hit in the neck by the ball, which had been bowled from a handheld device called a ‘wanger’.
He died in hospital days later.
His death triggered an outpouring of grief that saw cricket teams across Australia and the globe pause in memory of the boy from Ferntree Gully.
Jace visits his son’s grave nearly every day and said the pain has barely eased as they approach the first anniversary of his tragic passing.
His death had drawn eerily similar comparisons to that of Australian Test star Phil Hughes, who was struck by a bouncer playing Sheffield Shield in 2014.
But Jace knows they were both “freak” accidents and does not want to see huge changes to the sport, although he still encourages batters to wear neck guards on their helmets.
“You think of how many people play cricket, the chances are bloody ridiculous,” he added.
“It was just a freak accident, mate.”
This should have been the best week of Ben’s life.
He would have celebrated his 18th birthday last weekend before staying up late each night watching the Aussies crush South Africa in the Test match.
Instead, his family will on Friday make the trip to the city for a directions hearing at the Coroners Court.
“He would have got his license on Monday. It would have been a massive week. It makes it terribly hard,” Jace said.
“He would have stayed up to watch every ball if he could have. He loved it.”
During the directions hearing, counsel assisting Coroner Simon McGregor is expected to read out a summary of the events leading up to Ben’s death, with a focus on the training session.
The parties will then discuss the future course of the coronial investigation and whether a public inquest should be held.
Inquests are not ordered in every case, but a coroner may decide to hold one if the circumstances surrounding the death are unclear or if there are “broader issues of public health and safety that need to be examined”.
A Coroners Court spokeswoman said the court cannot confirm if an inquest will be held until dates are set and all parties notified.
“There are currently no inquest dates scheduled for this matter,” she said.
Coroner McGregor could still make recommendations to prevent future cricketing tragedies without holding an inquest by relying on written submissions.
But if an inquest was ordered, players and officials from Ferntree Gully Cricket Club may be called to give evidence, as well as witnesses with cricketing expertise.
A NSW coroner held an inquest into Hughes’ death in 2016 and made a series of recommendations.
For Jace and his wife, Tracey, they have found motivation in fundraising for charities who support grieving families after the sudden loss of a child.
“To be honest mate, every day is tough. Every day is brutal. I thought it would get easier after 11 months, but it doesn’t,” he said.
“I’ve been told the second year is tougher, but I don’t know if it can be. It’s not going to get any easier, yet.
“He’s constantly in your thoughts. It’s ridiculous how much you think of him.”
Jace said the coronial process will feel like closing the final chapter on his son’s life.
“Half of me wants it to carry on, because this is the last of his little flame of his candle,” he said.
“Once this is over, that’s it. His full stop is complete.
“He still hasn’t got a full stop yet, he’s still talked about.”