 "Death of a cricketer due to a ball hitting the head, a wave of mourning in the cricket world…")
The tragic news of a 17-year-old young cricketer’s death after being hit by a ball on the head came to light. Australian Ben Austin is said to have been training at Valley Tew Reserve in Melbourne’s Ferntree Street on Tuesday afternoon when the heartbreaking incident happened. According to media reports, the player was practicing with an automatic bowling machine in the nets while wearing a helmet.
Beyond heartbreaking.
The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club has confirmed the tragic news, that 17-year-old Ben Austin has died. 💔 pic.twitter.com/75MkM68dCO— Madelaine Burke (@Madelaine_Burke) October 29, 2025
Meanwhile, he was hit on the head and neck by a ball. Afterwards, his colleagues rushed him to Monash Medical Center in a critical condition. Where the cricketer died on Wednesday during treatment. This incident has spread a wave of grief in the sports world.
Ferntree Gully Cricket Club released this statement…
Ferntree Gully Cricket Club confirmed Ben’s death in a statement on Thursday morning, saying the entire cricket community was shocked by the incident. “We are deeply saddened by Ben’s passing, and his passing will affect everyone in our cricket community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, Jess, Tracey, Cooper and Jack, his friends, and all who knew Ben,” the club wrote on social media.
Ben was described by his club as a star cricketer, a great leader and a brilliant young man. He also represented Mulgrave and Eldon Park Cricket Clubs and played junior football for Waverley Park Hawks.