Bats out

Waverley Park Hawks Junior Football: Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan expressed grief and extended condolences on the death of 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a training session in Melbourne.

Austin was facing balls in the nets ahead of a T20 match when he was struck in the neck by a ball during training at Ferntree Gully, in front of his teammates. Despite being rushed to the hospital and placed on life support, he passed away on Thursday, leaving his family, teammates, and the wider cricket community devastated.

“No words can ease the pain of losing someone so young. Ben Austin was only 17, with dreams yet to take flight. Thinking of his loved ones and the entire cricket family in this difficult time. Rest in peace, Ben,” Dhawan wrote on X.