A young cricketer, aged 17, tragically passed away in the hospital following a severe injury sustained during practice.

Ben Austin was batting in the nets when a ball struck him on the head and neck at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, around 4:45 pm on Tuesday.

After the incident, the teenager was urgently taken to Monash Medical Centre in critical condition, where he was placed on life support.

The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club shared the heartbreaking news this morning, announcing that Ben had succumbed to his injuries overnight.

“We are utterly heartbroken by Ben’s passing, and his absence will resonate deeply within our cricket community,” the club expressed in a Facebook post.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family — Jace, Tracey, Cooper, Zach, his extended relatives, friends, and everyone who knew Ben and the happiness he brought into their lives.”

The club asked that Ben’s family’s privacy be respected, and passed on their thanks to the police, Ambulance Victoria, Monash Children’s Hospital, and all who assisted when Ben was injured.

Flowers, cricket bats and a Gatorade bottle have been left at the nets by mourners.

Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins said he was “absolutely devastated” for Ben’s family.

“Days like today remind you of how closely connected the cricket community is,” Cummins said.

“It’s not a great way to find out just how much cricket means to people and just how much a young cricketer meant to so many Victorians.

“We’re absolutely devastated on behalf of the family, on behalf of the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and more broadly the Victorian cricket community.

“We’re doing everything we can to not just support the family of young Ben but also those at the club, and Ben played for a number of clubs, to ensure that they have the counselling and support not just for today but well into the future.

“This is something that will stay with our cricketing community for some time.”

Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said the situation was heartbreaking for the family and the wider cricket community.

“There are some days where your heart is broken and today is one of them,” Baird said.

“The tragic circumstances of Ben at Ferntree Gully are circumstances that are going to be felt across the country.

“Cricket is a sport that brings people together, communities together.

“It’s also one that feels very deeply in incidents such as we’ve seen.

“It’s hard to put words on it, what we want to say is we’re doing everything we can to support the family, the club and all those impacted by this tragic news.

“Clearly there are things we have to learn from this, but right now we’re concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way.”