The hosts India Women and the defending champions Australia Women are locking horns in the ongoing second semi-final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Australia Women opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, the one thing common between Australia and India is that players from both the teams have been wearing black armbands.
The reason for the players wearing black armbands is an unfortunate event where a 17-year-old cricketer from Melbourne named Ben Austin lost his life during a practice session. Austin got struck by the ball on his neck and collapsed immediately after that. After that, he was provided advanced life support and was transported to Monash Medical Centre in critical condition.
Despite the efforts from the doctor, Ben was placed on life support and lost his life on Thursday, October 30.
Cricketing fraternity in shock after 17-year-old lost his life in Melbourne
The cricketing fraternity has been left in shock after Ben Austin’s untimely death while playing cricket. His father Jace Austin said that the family was ‘utterly devastated’ with their son’s death. Cricket Victoria also announced that the cricketing community across the country would be mourning the young cricketer’s death. "We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community," the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said in a statement.
BCCI shared a post on X confirming that players from both the teams are wearing black armbands to pay respect to Ben Austin. “Both teams are wearing black armbands today to pay their respects to 17-year-old Melbourne cricketer Ben Austin, who sadly passed away following an accident while batting in the nets on Tuesday night,” BCCi wrote on X.
