The cricketing world has lowered its head and raised its bat for Ben Austin, a Melbourne teenager who died after an accident at cricket training.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ben was practising in the nets at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's south-east, when he was struck in the neck by a ball thrown by a "wanger" — a ball throwing device .

Ben later died at Monash Children's Hospital.

Figures at the highest level of the game are mourning his death.

At St Kilda's Junction Oval in Melbourne a scheduled Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania opened with a minute's silence for the fallen 17-year-old.

Players laid their bats out in tribute, while photos of Ben were projected onto the scoreboard.

In Navi Mumbai on Thursday night the Australian women's cricket t

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