Melbourne, Oct. 30 -- In a heartbreaking incident, 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin lost his life after being struck on the neck while training in the nets at the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in Melbourne.

Austin was practising with a helmet but reportedly without a neck guard when he was hit by a delivery from a wanger, a hand-held ball-throwing device. He was attended by the emergency workers around 5 PM, and he was rushed to the scene. He was immediately taken to a hospital and placed on life support, but he did not survive.

The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club confirmed the tragic news through a Facebook post and urged fans to place their bats outside in Austin's memory, a gesture reminiscent of the tribute paid to Phil Hughes ...