The parents of a young cricketer who died after being struck in the neck at training are relieved a coroner will not recommend changes to the game he loved so much.

Ben Austin, 17, was batting in the nets at Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's east, on the afternoon of October 28, 2025 when he was hit.

Victorian coroner Simon McGregor is yet to formally deliver his findings but said he wanted to indicate his position before the upcoming cricket season.

"There will be no recommendations or comments about rule changes or equipment changes," the coroner said at a directions hearing on Friday.

"The cricket season can continue in the normal way."

Ben's parents Jace and Tracey Austin welcomed the assurance, saying it was what their son would have wanted.

"Under no way did we want to change this great game," Mr Austin told reporters outside court.

"(Ben) just would have wanted the game to go on and for everyone to keep playing it."

Ben was facing balls from a sidearm device when he was hit in the left side of his neck.

After he was struck, Ben took off his helmet and lay down on the ground, with his teammates believing he was mucking around.

They quickly called for help from their coach after they realised Ben was in trouble.

The coach performed CPR until paramedics arrived and stabilised Ben, transferring him to hospital.

But the teen had suffered a vertebral artery dissection and his parents were informed surgery was unlikely to improve his condition.

Ben died in hospital the following day.

Following a year-long investigation, Mr McGregor told the Austins on Friday there would not be an inquest into their son's death.

The coroner had instead determined it was a case of misadventure by well-meaning young people who were using their cricket equipment properly.

"I'm satisfied there will be no adverse comments that need to be made about any behaviour," Mr McGregor said.

"No individual or organisation contributed to the cause of Ben's death."

The coroner said while the incident was not a "freak event", it was still a very rare occurrence.

He commended Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, which have started assessing the risk to players and whether any changes needed to be implemented.

Ben's death led to an outpouring of tributes across the cricketing world, including at a Twenty20 match between Australia and India.

Hundreds of mourners attended Ben's funeral at Melbourne's Junction Oval in November 2025, where his coffin was adorned with the Collingwood Football Club emblem.

Mr Austin said his son was a "perfect boy" who hated conflict and causing any grief.

"Benny would have been overwhelmed by all of this stuff to be honest," he said outside court.

"He just wanted to play the great game as best as he could."

Ben's accident came 11 years after the death of Test cricketer Phillip Hughes.

The 25-year-old was struck in the neck with a ball while batting in a Sheffield Shield game at the Sydney Cricket Ground in November 2014.

Australian Associated Press