Women’s World Cup Teams Pay Tribute to Teen Cricketer Ben Austin

India and Australia’s women’s teams wore black armbands during their ICC Women’s World Cup semifinal on Thursday to honour 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin, who tragically died after being struck by a ball during training in Melbourne. The emotional tribute transcended the fierce competition of the knockout match, as players united to remember a young life lost.

Austin was hit on the neck while batting at the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club on Tuesday. Despite wearing a helmet, he was not using a neck guard when the ball, delivered via a side-arm thrower, struck him. He was placed on a ventilator but succumbed to his injuries two days later. The incident drew heartbreaking parallels to the death of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes in 2014, who suffered a similar injury.

The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club confirmed his passing in an emotional statement, saying the tragedy had deeply shaken the local cricket community. “We are absolutely devastated… Our thoughts and prayers are with his family—Jace, Tracey, Cooper, and Zach—and all who knew Ben,” the club said, urging people to leave bats outside their homes in tribute.

Ben’s father, Jace Austin, remembered his son as a passionate cricketer who loved spending time at the nets. “This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find comfort knowing he was doing what he loved,” he said.

Cricket Australia also expressed condolences on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Vale Ben Austin. Cricket Australia is devastated at the passing of 17-year-old Melbourne cricketer Ben Austin following an accident while batting in the nets on Tuesday night.”

The gesture at the World Cup served as a poignant reminder of the risks in the sport and the camaraderie that unites the cricketing world in grief.