Players paid their respects to the Australian teenager who tragically passed away, with black armbands and a minute’s silence observed in his memory. Ben Austin, 17, lost his life after being struck in the neck during a local Twenty20 cricket game in Melbourne while practicing with a ball-throwing device in the nets. Despite wearing a helmet, he did not have a protective stem guard for his neck.
The incident brought back memories of the death of Test star Phillip Hughes in 2014, who suffered a similar fate during a Sheffield Shield game. In a show of solidarity, the Victoria and Tasmania teams honored Austin by placing their bats out, wearing black armbands, and holding a moment of silence before resuming their match in Melbourne. Similar gestures were seen in a game between Western Australia and South Australia in Perth.
During the women’s one-day World Cup semi-final between India and Australia in Mumbai, both teams wore black armbands to pay tribute to Austin. The Australian team expressed their gratitude to the Indian side for the gesture and extended their condolences to Austin’s loved ones.
The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, where the tragic incident took place, became a site for floral tributes and cricket bats in memory of Austin. Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins highlighted the strong sense of community in cricket, emphasizing the support and care shown in times of tragedy.
The news of Austin’s passing resonated worldwide, with England’s Barmy Army promoting a fundraising initiative to support the family. Former England captain Michael Vaughan and the England and Wales Cricket Board also expressed their condolences, acknowledging the loss of a young life and offering thoughts to Austin’s family and friends.