Overview
- Cricket Australia and the family confirmed Ben Austin died after being struck in the neck during practice at Ferntree Gully, having been placed on advanced life support.
- Local competitions postponed matches and moments of silence were held at the Victoria–Tasmania Sheffield Shield match and the Australia–India T20I at the MCG.
- A community fundraiser surpassed $130,000, with mourners leaving bats, flowers and jerseys at the Ferntree Gully nets in his memory.
- Austin’s family asked supporters to look after the teammate involved in the incident, and Australian cricketer Sean Abbott visited the boy to offer comfort.
- Coaches and parents renewed calls for wider use of neck and stem guards, with reports saying Austin wore a helmet and faced balls delivered with a sidearm “wanger.”