It is heartbreaking that a bright and promising young Australian cricket player has lost his life as a result of being hit by a ball and has left his local club “absolutely devastated.” According to the reports, Ben Austin, 17, was in the process of batting against an automatic bowling machine in the nets and was wearing a helmet before a Twenty20 match in Melbourne on Tuesday when he was hit in the head and neck area. He was taken to the hospital in a very serious condition but he passed away on Wednesday.

“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community,” said Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in a statement. Austin was described as an emerging bowler and batter, a “star cricketer, great leader and an awesome young man.”

Cricket fatalities are still very uncommon. The single most tragic event in Australia happened in 2014 when during a Sheffield Shield match, Test cricketer Phillip Hughes was hit in the neck and died. Hughes’ death affected not only Australia but also the entire cricket world, it led the authorities to implement more strict concussion protocols and they also started making better safety gears for players.

The death of Austin has led the reconsideration of the safety of the players, the youth and generally the ones who are coming up the game and going to the nets and playing in domestic competitions.