A bright future was tragically cut short in Melbourne when a promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer, Ben Austin, died after being struck by a ball during a routine practice session. The devastating incident has left his local sporting community utterly heartbroken.
Reports indicate that Ben Austin was training at the Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully on a Tuesday afternoon when the freak accident occurred. He was reportedly facing deliveries from an automatic bowling machine in the nets, wearing a helmet, when he was hit in the head and neck area.
Paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene, and Austin was rushed to Monash Medical Centre in critical condition. Despite the tireless efforts of medical staff, he passed away the following Wednesday.
The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, where Ben was a valued player, issued a statement on Thursday morning confirming his death and expressing their immense grief. “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community,” the club shared on social media. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family – Jace, Tracey, Cooper, and Zach – his extended family, friends, and all who knew Ben and the joy that he brought.”
Ben was fondly remembered by his club as a “star cricketer, great leader, and an awesome young man.” Beyond Ferntree Gully, he also proudly represented Mulgrave and Eildon Park cricket clubs and played junior football for the Waverley Park Hawks.
Arnie Walters, president of the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association, described Austin as “both talented and popular.” He pledged, “We will provide any and all support we can to our clubs and cricket family.”
Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll confirmed that grief counseling and support are being offered to students at Rowville Secondary College, where Ben was a student. “We will wrap our arms around them and give them every support they need,” Carroll stated. “This is a tragedy that will last many years for that local community.”
Austin’s untimely death has inevitably drawn parallels to the 2014 tragedy involving Australian Test batter Phillip Hughes, who also lost his life after being struck in the neck during a Sheffield Shield game. Hughes’s death spurred significant safety reforms across the cricketing world.
While such fatalities remain incredibly rare, Ben Austin’s passing serves as a stark and tragic reminder to the cricketing world of the inherent risks involved, even during routine training sessions, and underscores the ongoing importance of player safety measures.