Clutching flowers instead of bats and bags, dozens of heartbroken young cricketers have flocked to a suburban Melbourne ground to pay tribute to their teammate who never came home.

The tragic scene unfolded after Ben Austin, 17, was struck by a ball while practising in the nets on Tuesday afternoon in Ferntree Gully in Melbourne’s east.

His teammates rushed to help before paramedics took him to hospital in a critical condition. The teenager died in hospital on Thursday morning.

Within hours, dozens of flower bouquets, sweet treats and a handful of cricket bats left by grieving friends had turned into a memorial for the teen.

A friend said he understood Ben was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and the bowler was using a “wanger” – a plastic instrument used to sling a ball.

Devastated young people sat nearby discussing the tragedy, while one woman put a helmet on her head and demonstrated where the ball had hit his neck.

Friend and teammate Liam Vertigan said Ferntree Gully Cricket Club was in shock at the death of such an energetic young man.

“He lived and breathed his cricket,” Vertigan said.

“He was just well loved by us all, very, very polite, always with a smile on his face.”

Ben’s father Jace revealed a teammate was bowling in the nets at the time, describing what happened as an accident that had affected two young men.

Austin said he and Ben’s mother Tracey were devastated and would forever cherish their son.

“Ben was an adored son, deeply loved brother to Cooper and Zach and a shining light in the lives of our family and friends,” he said.

“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down to the nets with mates to play cricket.”

Cricket Australia chief executive Mike Baird said the cricket world would unite to support the club and the Austin family.

Ben was involved in multiple football and cricket clubs, and earlier this year received an award recognising him as a player who demonstrated dedication and the right attitude.

Australian cricketing great Merv Hughes said the young athlete’s death had been felt far beyond his community.

“It doesn’t matter what level of cricket you play, there’s always a chance that something like this happens,” he said on Thursday.

“Right across Australia and throughout the world, no doubt people will be thinking of him.”

The use of helmets and neck guards is mandated across all Cricket Australia-sanctioned competitions but only “strongly recommended” at the community level.

“I don’t want to sound dismissive at all – it’s just tragic. But probably the records show there’s more chance of being hit by lightning than there is of dying through an incident at cricket,” Hughes said.

“Let’s not be too hasty in judging what should and shouldn’t be done.”

The accident came more than a decade after the death of Test cricketer Phillip Hughes. He was struck in the neck with a ball while batting in a Sheffield Shield game at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hughes’ family were among those sending condolences to Ben’s loved ones, expressing hope that they would be comforted by cherished memories of the teenager.

-AAP