Teen Cricketer Ben Austin Dies After Nets Injury

Seventeen-year-old Ben Austin was struck in the head/neck by a cricket ball while batting in the nets at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne; he was rushed to Monash Children’s/Monash Medical Centre on life support and died days later. Reports say the ball was delivered by a handheld ball‑launcher (wanger) or a bowling machine, and officials said he was wearing a helmet but not a clip‑on neck protector (stem guard). The incident occurred in front of teammates and has drawn painful comparisons to the 2014 death of Test cricketer Phillip Hughes. Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, his club and the wider cricket community offered condolences, paid tribute and pledged support to the teammate who was bowling, while Austin’s family thanked first responders and asked for privacy. Officials said the tragedy is devastating, prompted calls for public tributes, and highlighted the need to review safety despite stem guards being made mandatory in elite Australian cricket in late 2023.