Watch Players Pay Emotional Tribute: Players Wear Black Armbands in IND vs AUS 2nd T20I to Honour 17-Year-Old Cricketer Ben Austin
Watch Players Pay Emotional Tribute: Players Wear Black Armbands in IND vs AUS 2nd T20I to Honour 17-Year-Old Cricketer Ben Austin
The tragic death of young Australian club cricketer Ben Austin, who passed away after being struck by a ball during practice, moved both Indian and Australian players to pay an emotional tribute at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In a poignant gesture during the second T20I between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, players from both sides, along with the match officials wore black armbands to mourn the untimely death of 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin. The tribute, observed on Friday, struck an emotional chord among fans worldwide.
Ben Austin, who played for Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in Melbourne’s outer east, suffered a fatal injury while preparing for a T20 match on Tuesday. A sidearm ball struck him on the neck during practice. Although he was wearing a helmet, it reportedly lacked a stem guard, a critical piece of protection for the back of the neck. The impact proved fatal. Despite being rushed to Monash Children’s Hospital, Austin succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. His club officially announced his death the following day, prompting an outpouring of grief from the Australian cricket community.
The sombre tribute at the MCG came as Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first, sending India to bat. Team India remained unchanged from the first game, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the side. The playing XI included Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Akshar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty, and Jasprit Bumrah.
A minute of silence was observed at the MCG following the tragic passing of Ben Austin ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xly79nAgcg
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
The Australian lineup featured Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Josh Hazlewood. The first T20I between the two sides was abandoned due to rain, and both teams entered Friday’s fixture seeking to gain an early advantage in the five-match series.
A similar gesture of mourning was also observed a day earlier during the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final between India and Australia, where players wore black armbands to remember Austin. His passing has reignited discussions about safety measures in cricket, particularly the importance of wearing full protective gear during practice sessions.
The remaining three matches of the T20I series are scheduled for November 2, 6, and 8. However, for many in the cricketing world, this series will now be remembered for its moment of unity and compassion, when both nations stood together in grief for a young life gone too soon.
