Thousands of mourners have gathered to farewell teenage cricketer Ben Austin at Junction Oval on Thursday morning.

The 17-year-old tragically died three weeks ago after being struck by a cricket ball while warming up for a T20 match with local club Ferntree Gully.

Teammates rushed to help before paramedics took him in a critical condition to hospital, where he later died.

The grandstand at Junction Oval in Melbourne was packed, while close friends and family were seated on the turf to bid farewell to the beloved teenager.

Austin was a mad Collingwood fan and had the Magpies logo, and famous black and white stripes on his coffin.

On top of the casket — a signed jersey, Collingwood’s 2023 Premiership cup, an AFL Sherrin with the words ‘forever 17’, and his portrait.

But cricket was h

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