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Tragedy struck the local cricket community as 17-year-old Ben Austin succumbed to his injuries in the hospital yesterday morning. The young athlete was struck in the neck while practicing in the nets at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully on Tuesday afternoon.
In a poignant act of remembrance, Ben’s family revisited the cricket nets today, where a growing memorial of flowers and cricket bats has been established in his honor.
“We felt compelled to return to the place where he last stood,” shared his father, Jace. “When the sun broke through the clouds, it was a beautiful moment, exactly what we needed.”
Jace admitted that he initially thought he would never be able to visit the site again. “But Benny would have wanted us to, because he absolutely loved the game,” he added.
Ben’s passion for cricket was undeniable, with his father noting that the teenager played the sport as often as he could.
“He used to play Friday night, Saturday, Saturday afternoon and Sunday. He loved it,” he said.
“He wanted to be a boundary umpire, a PE teacher and get as high as he could with his cricket.”
Jace thanked emergency services and the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club for helping to treat Ben at the scene.
“We got another three days out of him because they helped get him back to the hospital so that we could just spend nights with him and that will be with me forever. Thank you everyone.”
He urged the community not to let the tragedy deter them from playing “the great game” of cricket.
“It wasn’t the game’s fault, it was just a freak accident,” Jace said.
“So please make sure you keep playing this great game.”
Touching tribute from nation’s top cricketers
Players from Victoria and Tasmania held a minute’s silence before today’s final day of play in their Sheffield Shield clash in Melbourne.
They also lined up their bats and caps against the Junction Oval’s white picket fence and wore black armbands in memory of Austin, echoing the same tributes cricketers around the country made following the death of Test batter Phillip Hughes in 2014.
Black armbands were also worn by Australian and Indian players during the two sides’ Women’s World Cup semi-final overnight, as well as in the other two Shield matches currently under way in Brisbane and Perth.
Ben’s uncle, David Anstey, sifted through a growing wall of tributes for the teenager at the nets where he spent his last moments.
“He’s just the most special kid you could ever meet,” Anstey said.
“He’s respectful of everyone, whether it’s his teammates, schoolmates, club members, old, young.
“Just the most loving and caring kid and I think everyone who met him was impacted in some way by him.”
Ben’s cricket coach Josh Henry remembered the teenager as a “perfect kid”.
“Ben was a beautiful boy. He was so loving, caring, polite. He’d do anything for anyone,” he said.
“We all love him and miss him dearly.”
Austin was also remembered as a talented Australian rules footballer and “emerging star” in the Victorian umpiring scene.
“It is a shock to everyone to lose such a young, vibrant person in these tragic circumstances,” Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) chief executive Jason Reddick said yesterday.
“On behalf of the entire VAFA community, we send our deepest condolences to Ben’s parents, Tracey and Jace, who is also a much-loved figure around community footy, plus Ben’s brothers Cooper and Zach, along with all who knew and loved Ben.”
Cricket authorities have pledged to do everything possible to support Austin’s family and friends following his death.
“Cricket is a sport that brings people together, communities together,” Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said yesterday.
“It’s also one that feels very deeply in incidents such as we’ve seen.
“It’s hard to put words on it, what we want to say is we’re doing everything we can to support the family, the club and all those impacted by this tragic news.
“Clearly there are things we have to learn from this, but right now we’re concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way.”
Another tribute is expected to be held for Austin at tonight’s T20 international between Australia and India at the MCG.