India and Australia players are sporting a black armband during the second semi-final of Women's World Cup 2025 on Thursday (Oct 30). The reason behind the gesture is passing away of a teen Australia cricketer and to honour him. A 17-year-old cricketer had died after being hit with the ball in the neck during practice in Melbourne. The incident invoked the memories death of Australia international cricket Phil Hughes who had died after being hit a bouncer during a domestic match.<h2>Who was the Australia teen?</h2>As per an update shared by Cricket Australia, 17-year-old Ben Austin died tragically after being hit in neck on Tuesday (Oct 28) during a net session ahead of an age-group T20 match in Melbourne. He was rushed to the hospital following the incident but later on succumbed to his injuries.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-shares-recovery-update-in-grateful-social-media-post-1761803236076">Shreyas Iyer shares recovery update in grateful social media post</a>"We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning," his father Jace Austin said in a statement. "This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down to the nets with mates to play cricket."<h2>Club describes him as emerging bowler and batter</h2>Austin played for Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in Melbourne and the organization described him as a "star cricketer, great leader and an awesome young man.""We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family – Jace, Tracey, Cooper and Zach, his extended family, his friends and to all of those who knew Ben and the joy that he brought," the club further added in the statement.

A 17-year-old cricketer had died after being hit with the ball in the neck during practice in Melbourne. The incident invoked the memories death of Australia international cricket Phil Hughes who had died after being hit a bouncer during a domestic match.

India and Australia players are sporting a black armband during the second semi-final of Women's World Cup 2025 on Thursday (Oct 30). The reason behind the gesture is passing away of a teen Australia cricketer and to honour him. A 17-year-old cricketer had died after being hit with the ball in the neck during practice in Melbourne. The incident invoked the memories death of Australia international cricket Phil Hughes who had died after being hit a bouncer during a domestic match. Who was the Australia teen? As per an update shared by Cricket Australia, 17-year-old Ben Austin died tragically after being hit in neck on Tuesday (Oct 28) during a net session ahead of an age-group T20 match in Melbourne. He was rushed to the hospital following the incident but later on succumbed to his injuries. Also Read - Shreyas Iyer shares recovery update in grateful social media post "We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning," his father Jace Austin said in a statement. "This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down to the nets with mates to play cricket." Club describes him as emerging bowler and batter Austin played for Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in Melbourne and the organization described him as a "star cricketer, great leader and an awesome young man." "We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family – Jace, Tracey, Cooper and Zach, his extended family, his friends and to all of those who knew Ben and the joy that he brought," the club further added in the statement.

A 17-year-old cricketer had died after being hit with the ball in the neck during practice in Melbourne. The incident invoked the memories death of Australia international cricket Phil Hughes who had died after being hit a bouncer during a domestic match.

Women's World Cup 2025: India, Australia players wear black armband in memory of Aussie teen who died during net session

A promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer died on Thursday after being struck by a ball, with his family saying they were "utterly devastated". Ben Austin was in the nets with a helmet on before a Twenty20 game in Melbourne on Tuesday when he was hit in the neck while facing a ball-throwing device. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vale Ben Austin. Cricket Australia is devastated at the passing of 17-year-old Melbourne cricketer Ben Austin following an accident while batting in the nets on Tuesday night. <a href="https://t.co/zBifuqrrRG">pic.twitter.com/zBifuqrrRG</a>&mdash; Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/1983740383889899617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning," his father Jace Austin said in a statement. "This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down to the nets with mates to play cricket.&nbsp;"We would also like to support his teammate who was bowling in the nets. This accident has impacted two young men and our thoughts are with he and his family as well."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-women-s-odi-world-cup-2025-shafali-varma-full-of-confidence-for-semis-says-i-believe-god-has-sent-me-here-1761751419419">Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Shafali Varma full of confidence for semis, says ‘I believe god has sent me here’</a>&nbsp;Austin was an emerging bowler and batter, considered by his Ferntree Gully Cricket Club as a "star cricketer, great leader and an awesome young man".&nbsp;Deaths in cricket are rare.&nbsp;The most recent high-profile one in Australia came in 2014 when Test star Phillip Hughes was killed when hit in the neck by a rising ball during a domestic Sheffield Shield game.&nbsp;His death stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief and ushering in stronger protocols around concussion and better safety equipment.&nbsp;Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins told broadcaster ABC there were similarities between the two tragedies.&nbsp;"The ball hit him (Austin) in the neck in a similar accident that Phil Hughes suffered 10 years ago," Cummins said.&nbsp;Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said his heart "was broken" and lessons needed to be learned.&nbsp;"Clearly there are things we have to learn from this," Baird told reporters. "But right now we are concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Austin's death stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief and ushering in stronger protocols around concussion and better safety equipment.

A promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer died on Thursday after being struck by a ball, with his family saying they were "utterly devastated". Ben Austin was in the nets with a helmet on before a Twenty20 game in Melbourne on Tuesday when he was hit in the neck while facing a ball-throwing device. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Austin's death stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief and ushering in stronger protocols around concussion and better safety equipment.

17-year-old Aussie cricketer suffers similar fate to that of late Hughes, dies after being hit in neck

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Women's World Cup 2025: India, Australia players wear black armband in memory of Aussie teen who died during net session

Teenage Aussie cricketer dies in Melbourne after being hit in neck in training