Cricket authorities have confirmed a ball-throwing device, colloquially known as a "wanger", was used when teenage boy Ben Austin was fatally struck on the neck by a cricket ball.

The teenager was practising in cricket nets at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's east , when the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

Cricket Victoria has confirmed that a wanger was being used in the nets.

Ben had been wearing a helmet but not a stem guard, head of Cricket Victoria Nick Cummins said.

What is a wanger?

A wanger is a sidearm ball thrower, which allows the thrower to hurl a ball with less strain on the shoulder.

It is similar to a thrower used by dog owners.

However, the wanger can accommodate a cricket ball, rather than a tennis ball.

The purpose of a wanger is to

See Full Page