<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> cricket oval has been painted with the initials and cap number of a teenager </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ben-austin-young-cricketer-dies-after-training-accident-victoria/b55935be-0408-4938-a3e6-bb46b649c8b1" rel="" target="" title="tragically killed after a training mishap last week"><span>tragically killed after a training mishap last week</span></a><span>, as his teammates prepare to return to the field tomorrow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ben Austin, 17, was hit in the head and neck area by a cricket ball while he was batting in the nets at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully on October 28.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His family made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support three days later.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-teacher-shot-by-student-wins-15-million-dollar-payout/3daff3e5-d72c-4b79-b99a-e30a49c47350" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>US teacher shot by six-year-old student wins $15 million payout</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last night Ferntree Gully Cricket Club players, staff, volunteers, and supporters gathered at the ground before training, where linemarkers had painted the initials BA and Ben's cap number 512 on the oval.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our coach Josh Henry had a quick few words before we all walked over to the nets to gather in a circle with a minute's silence to remember Ben," Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said in a post to Facebook.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cricket club announced it will mark a memorial round in Ben's honour this weekend, with all games to feature a minute's silence and a statement reflecting on the teenager's life.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ben-austin-ferntree-gully-cricket-club-oval-painted/8d48d8ec-397a-4f09-9a65-de7b28bbf488" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will be the first time Ben's teammates return to the fielding circle, after last week's matches were postponed due to the tragedy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tributes for the Ferntree Gully teen reached the world's top cricketers, as Australian and Indian players observed a minute's silence near the boundary before the second T201 at the MCG last Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Players from both teams wore black armbands out of respect.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Players from Victoria and Tasmania also held a minute's silence before the final day of play in their Sheffield Shield clash in Melbourne last week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They lined up their bats and caps against the Junction Oval's white picket fence and wore black armbands in memory of Austin, echoing the same tributes cricketers around the country made following the death of Test batter Phillip Hughes in 2014.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/elon-musk-first-trillionaire-tesla-pay-packet-approved/a674adac-8ea7-454a-aea8-245907dddb7b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Musk on the cusp of being first ever trillionaire</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black armbands were also worn by Australian and Indian players during the two sides' Women's World Cup semi-final overnight, as well as in the other two Shield matches currently under way in Brisbane and Perth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ben was remembered by family and friends as a respectful, caring and talented boy with a strong passion for sport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's just the most special kid you could ever meet," Ben's uncle David Anstey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's respectful of everyone, whether it's his teammates, schoolmates, club members, old, young."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ben's cricket coach Josh Henry remembered the teenager as a "perfect kid".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ben was a beautiful boy. He was so loving, caring, polite. He'd do anything for anyone," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The nets at Wally Tew Reserve overflowed with flowers, bats and jerseys in the days following the talented teen's death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></a><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>and</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&hl=en_AU&pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>
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