Seventeen-year-old cricketer Ben Austin has died after sustaining a neck injury during a training session in Melbourne, leaving the Australian cricket community in mourning and drawing painful comparisons to the 2014 passing of Phil Hughes.
Austin, who played for the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, was batting in the nets on Tuesday when he was struck on the neck by a delivery fired from a side-arm thrower. Although he was wearing a helmet, he was not using a stem guard, the attachment designed to protect the vulnerable area below the helmet. He collapsed shortly after the impact and was taken to hospital in critical condition. He was placed on life support but passed away on Thursday morning.
Cricket Victoria is deeply saddened & shocked at the passing of 17-year-old Ben Austin from Ferntree Gully Cricket Club.
— Cricket Victoria (@cricketvictoria) October 30, 2025
Our sincere love & thoughts are with the Austin family, Ben’s teammates, Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and the Victorian cricket community
Vale Ben. pic.twitter.com/uj9dECiTrB
His father, Jace, released a statement remembering his son as a much-loved member of the family and the cricket community.
“Ben was an adored son and a deeply loved brother. He spent many summers playing cricket with friends. It was one of his great joys. We also want to acknowledge his teammate who was bowling at the time. This accident has affected two young men, and our thoughts are with him and his family as well.”
The tragedy has resurfaced discussions around helmet safety and the inconsistent use of stem guards at lower-division and junior cricket levels, despite the widespread push for protective upgrades following Phil Hughes’ death.
Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins said support services have been arranged for Austin’s family, teammates, and others connected to the clubs he represented. “We are devastated. Our focus is on supporting the family and everyone affected. This is something that will stay with our community for a long time.”