Ben Austin, 17, was hit high in the neck by a ball from a teammate while hitting the net
Ben Austin has died after being hit by a ball during training. PHOTO: Cricket Australia Facebook post
MELBOURNE:
Australian cricket was rocked on Thursday by the death of a teenage player who was hit by a ball during training at his club in Melbourne.
Ben Austin, 17, was hit high in the neck by a ball delivered by a teammate while batting in the nets at Ferntree Gully Cricket Club on Tuesday, according to governing body Cricket Victoria (CV).
He was rushed to hospital and put on life support, but died on Wednesday, according to his team.
“The ball hit him in the neck in a similar accident that Phil Hughes suffered 10 years ago,” chief cricket officer Nick Cummins told Australian media.
Australian former Test champion Hughes died in 2014 aged 25, two days after being hit in the neck by a short ball during a domestic match in Sydney.
Austin was wearing a helmet but no neck guard, Cummins confirmed.
Neck guards, often known as stem guards, are clip-on components to helmets that provide additional protection to the player’s neck and upper spine.
They are mandatory in elite cricket in Australia from late 2023.
The ball that hit Austin was delivered by a hand-held throwing device known locally as a gun.
Wangers are regularly used in cricket training to simulate bowling and reduce physical stress on coaches and bowlers.
Austin’s family released a statement saying they were “absolutely devastated.”
“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some solace in him doing something he has done for so many summers – going down to the nets with his friends to play cricket,” the statement said.
“We would also like to support his team-mate who bowled in the nets – this accident affected two young men and our thoughts are with him and his family as well.”
a href=”https://tribune.com.pk/story/2574974/australia-teenager-dies-after-hit-by-ball”>Source link
