MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A 17-year-old cricketer has died after being hit in the head during a training session in suburban Melbourne.

Local cricket officials said Ben Austin was rushed to a hospital in critical condition after being struck by a ball during practice at Ferntree Gully on Tuesday.

He was batting in the nets — which are typically practice pitches enclosed by netting — against bowlers when the injury occurred in front of his teammates.

The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club on Thursdsay confirmed that Austin had died.

“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community,” the club said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family . . . his friends and to all of those who knew Ben and the

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