17-year-old Melbourne cricketer dies after being struck by ball during practice
Melbourne: In a tragic incident, a 17-year-old Australian cricketer, Ben Austin has died after being struck by a ball during practice at the Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully.
The teenager was training in the nets on Tuesday afternoon, facing deliveries from an automatic bowling machine, while wearing a helmet, he was hit in the head and neck area, according to local reports. Paramedics rushed him to Monash Medical Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, after remaining in critical condition.
According to a report published by the Times of India, Ben’s father, Jace Austin, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement. Jace said, “We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning. This tragedy has taken Ben from us. But we find some comfort that he was doing something he loved, spending yet another summer afternoon at the nets with his mates.”
He also extended support to Ben’s teammate who was bowling at the time of the incident, saying, “This accident has impacted two young men, and our thoughts are with him and his family as well.”
The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, where Ben played, described his death as an unimaginable loss. “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impact of his death will be felt deeply across our cricket community,” the club said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family- Jace, Tracey, Cooper, and Zach, and all who knew Ben and the joy he brought.”
Besides representing Ferntree Gully, Ben also played for the Mulgrave and Eildon Park cricket clubs and was part of the Waverley Park Hawks junior football team.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
