Australia vs India, 2nd T20I: During the 2nd T20I between India and Australia at the MCG, players from both teams wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence, paying tribute in a heartfelt gesture that united the cricketing fraternity. (Image Credit: X/SportsTiger)
Australia vs India, 2nd T20I: A sombre sight was seen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the players of India and Australia, along with the match officials and staff, wore black armbands during the 2nd T20I on Friday. The gesture was to pay tribute to promising young cricketer Ben Austin, 17, who died after being hit on the neck by a ball during a training session in Melbourne.
Ahead of kickoff, there was a minute's silence with both sides and the match officials standing together in a show of respect. Austin's photo then appeared on the giant screen while his favourite song played in the background-a poignant moment that bound the players and the fans together with sadness and respect.
The incident happened at the Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, where Austin was training ahead of the local T20 match. A ball from the bowling machine hit him in the neck and inflicted severe injury. Though immediate medical attention was provided along with hospitalisation at Monash Children's Hospital, Austin could not survive.
In a statement, CA explained the tribute: “At approximately 15 minutes before play, both teams took to the field joined by match officials and representatives of Ben’s cricket clubs, Cricket Victoria, and Cricket Australia to observe a moment’s silence. Ben’s image was displayed on the big screen, and players wore black armbands to honour his memory.”
Tributes flowed in from across Australia's cricket community. Players from Victoria and Tasmania paused their Sheffield Shield match at St Kilda's Junction Oval to pay their respects to Austin, while teams in Western Australia and South Australia had similar observances.
Outside the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, flowers and cricket bats were laid in remembrance of the young talent.
The tragic incident brought back vivid memories of Phillip Hughes, who died in 2014 after being hit on the neck during a match, and reminded one that even at grassroots level, there is always a risk involved with the sport.
The collective tribute at the MCG reflected the solidarity and compassion that define the cricket fraternity. As Indian and Australian players stood together in silence, the gesture spoke volumes across boundaries of rivalry, underlining sport's sense of unity in sorrow. The death of Ben Austin also reminds one of the fragility of cricket and how, if an unfortunate incident strikes, the spirit of the game brings together players, spectators, and even nations across the globe.
