Local cricketers down bats in memory of killed teen
Community cricketers will lay down their bats in memory of a budding player who died in a freak training accident as a wave of grief sweeps over the sport.
Ben Austin, 17, died on Thursday, two days after a ball struck his neck while hitting the net at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne’s east.
His tragic death caused immense grief around the world, and more than $130,000 was raised from thousands of donors to help his family create a permanent memorial in his memory.
Ben’s local Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association cricket matches have been postponed this weekend as the local pub opens its doors to players, members and supporters on Saturday.
On Friday, Ben’s family returned to the club where his love of the sport began and to the scene of the accident, where he laid down his bat and gloves for the last time.
“We just wanted to be where he was last standing, and then the sun came out of the clouds. It was beautiful,” said father Jace Austin.
The grieving father recalled that his son supported all sports and had recently learned of Ben’s passion for flying.
“I would do anything to hear Benny’s voice again. I would give up everything. I would trade places with him just to hear his voice again,” he said.
Ahead of Friday’s Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania at Junction Oval, players observed a minute’s silence in honor of the promising cricketer.
Another tribute was held at the MCG ahead of the men’s T20 International between Australia and India, a day after the women’s teams did the same.
Mr Austin, who was touched when he saw the cap bearing Ben’s number 512, said the local club president would take the cap to represent the family in the T20 match.
“Benny will be there. He’ll be there, too. He won’t miss it. It won’t bother him if we’re not there. He’d go anyway,” he said.
A friend told AAP that Ben was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and the bowler was using a “wanger”, a plastic device used to launch the ball.
The accident comes more than a decade after Test cricketer Phillip Hughes died after being struck in the neck by a ball during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
