MELBOURNE, Australia: A promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer died on Thursday after being struck by a ball, with his family saying they were “utterly devastated.” Ben Austin was in the nets with a helmet on before a Twenty20 game in Melbourne on Tuesday when he was hit in the neck while facing a ball-throwing device. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition. “We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning,” his father Jace Austin said in a statement.

Ferntree Gully cricket club confirms death of 17-year-old Ben Austin after incident in cricket nets on Tuesday

The 17-year-old was rushed to hospital on Tuesday and placed on life support but died on Wednesday

The 17-year-old was not wearing neck guard when fatally hit in practice nets while officials say priority is Ben Austin’s family and boy who threw ball

Ben Austin collapsed almost immediately after impact

The teenager's neck was struck by a ball in a chilling similarity to the death of Australia international Phil Hughes.

MELBOURNE, Australia: A promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer died on Thursday after being struck by a ball, with his family saying they were “utterly devastated.” Ben Austin…