One week after his death, Ben’s teammates pay tribute as they return to the nets

One week after beloved Gully boy Ben Austin’s death, the teenage cricketer’s team returned to the nets – but they weren’t without him on the field.

Members of the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, the 17-year-old’s team, gathered at Wally Tew Reserve on Thursday for training, for the first time since the young cricketer’s death last week.

Putting their arms around one another, they encircled a tribute to Ben– his initials spray-painted onto the local oval along with his cap number: 512.

Coach Josh Henry paid tribute to Ben, addressing players, supporters, committee members, volunteers and Ben’s father Jace Austin. The team held a minute’s silence for the 17-year-old by the club nets before training.

The team held a second minute’s silence on Friday evening for Ben, who died after he was struck by a cricket ball while practicing at the reserve with a friend in Melbourne’s outer east on Tuesday last week.

Club president Lee Thompson described Thursday’s tribute as “an incredibly healing moment”.

“We’re a cricket club, ultimately, and we’ve got to get on and play cricket again,” Thompson told Nine News.

“In honour of Ben, I think that’s what we need to do.”

The club was set to play games on Saturday as part of a memorial round held in Ben’s honour, but matches were cancelled due to significant rain. The memorial will instead be held on the weekend of November 15.

Before all games players, officials and spectators will huddle in a circle to observe a minute’s silence and listen to a statement reflecting on Ben’s life.

The Austin family visited the nets where Ben died the day after his death.

His father, wearing his son’s cap and returning to the Ferntree Gully oval with Ben’s bat, said he wanted his son to be remembered for his passion and love for sport.

“To hear his voice again, I’d do anything, I’d give up anything,” he said at the time. “Swap places with him, just to hear his voice again.”

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