Cricket grounds across Australia fell silent on Friday as players, officials, and fans paid tribute to 17-year-old Ben Austin, who tragically lost his life after being struck by a ball during practice in Melbourne.
Before the Australia–India T20 match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, both teams stood for a minute’s silence, wearing black armbands in Austin’s memory.
The packed 100,000-strong crowd joined in a moving moment of respect for the young cricketer, whose death has shaken the sporting community.
Austin was hit in the neck while facing a ball-throwing machine during a net session on Tuesday. Despite wearing a helmet, reports say he did not have a stem guard, a protective attachment designed to shield the neck area. The incident has drawn painful comparisons to the 2014 tragedy that claimed Test batsman Phillip Hughes.
Tributes poured in nationwide, with domestic teams in Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia pausing play to honor Austin. Flowers and cricket bats were laid at Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, where the accident occurred.
“Cricket is a family, and this loss is deeply felt across our community,” said Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins.
Condolences also came from around the world, including England’s Barmy Army and former captain Michael Vaughan, who called Austin’s passing “heartbreaking.”