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The cricket community is mourning the loss of one of its own after a 17-year-old Australian died after being struck in the neck by a ball during practice, the country’s national governing body for the sport confirmed on Thursday.
Ben Austin was training at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne’s east on Tuesday when he was hit in the neck by a ball. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and put on “advanced life support”. Cricket Australia said.
The Australian cricket team holds a moment of silence for Ben Austin during match two of the T20 International series between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 31, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
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“We are absolutely devastated by Ben’s passing and the effects of his death will be felt by everyone in our cricket community,” Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family… his friends and to all those who knew Ben and the joy he brought.”
Austin’s father also released a statement Thursday.
“We are completely devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who passed away earlier Thursday morning,” Jace Austin’s statement said. “To Tracey and I, Ben was a beloved son, dearly loved brother to Cooper and Zach, and a shining light in the lives of our family and friends.
People look at tributes left at the cricket nets in memory of promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin, who died in Melbourne on October 30, 2025 after being hit by a ball two days earlier (William West/AFP via Getty Images)
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“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort in the fact that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down into the nets with friends to play cricket. He loved cricket and it was one of the joys of his life.”
According to the family, the accident happened in front of Austin’s teammates.
“We would also like to support his teammate who bowled in the nets – this accident has affected two young men and our thoughts are with him and his family as well.”
The players observe a moment of silence for young cricketer Ben Austin, who died on 30 October 2025 after being hit in the neck by a ball before a match. (William Est/AFP via Getty Images)
Tributes poured in and the young athlete was honored across the country, including a moment of silence before the T20 International series between Australia and India on Friday.
Austin died more than 10 years after popular cricketer Philip Hughes died in Australia in November 2014, two days after being hit near the ear by a ball during a match. He was 25.
