Teen killed in cricketing tragedy 'died by misadventure', coroner finds

The grieving family of a 17-year-old boy who died in a cricketing tragedy say they are relieved a coroner will not recommend changes to the rules of the game their son loved.

Ben Austin was hit in the neck by a ball thrown with a side arm device while practising in the nets at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's outer east, in October last year.

Cricket authorities confirmed at the time he was wearing a helmet but not a stem guard, which protects the neck.

Ben later died at the Monash Children's Hospital.

Coroner Simon McGregor on Friday confirmed the 17-year-old died as a result of misadventure by well-meaning young people using proper equipment at a "caring, well-run club".

Ben's parents Tracey and Jace wiped away tears as the facts were read at a directions hearing in the Coroners Court of Victoria, with legal teams for Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria also present.

The coroner confirmed no adverse comments would be made about anyone's behaviour and "no individuals or organisations contributed to the cause of Ben's death".

He added that no recommendations or comments about rule changes would be made, paving the way for the summer cricket season to continue "in the normal way".

The coroner proposed commending the fact that some clubs and leagues had made safety changes without waiting to be told, with one bringing in neck guards and another banning the use of side arms.

But he said there was still some misunderstanding about individual clubs' ability to make safety changes, with some under the mistaken impression authorities would tell them what to do in response to safety issues.

The coroner is considering making a comment about the governance structure and how safety and best practice messages are conveyed.

Speaking after the hearing, Jace Austin said the lack of adverse findings and rule changes were exactly what Ben would have wanted.

"There's no way we want to change this great game," he said.

"But on the other hand, we don't want another Benny or Phil [Hughes, who died in similar circumstances in 2014].

"From what we've heard, it's exactly what we wanted."

With the anniversary of Ben's death nearing, he said the family would be coming together to reflect.

"Every day's tough, but when this comes to an end, this will be Benny's full stop, so you sort of want it to drag out."

"Every day's brutal to be honest."

Tracey Austin wore a necklace bearing her son's name.

"I've got him close to my heart," she said.

Cricket Victoria's Nick Cummins said the organisation would work through the coroner's initial comments and later findings.

"What we didn't want to do is go out and start finding solutions before we understood the coroner's findings," he said.

"Cricket is a safe sport. It's always been a safe sport. We have measures in place to make sure that's the case. 

"But it's always important to have an open inquiry around incidents like this."

He said the cricketing community had come together after Ben's death, with the Austin family raising $180,000 at a fundraiser last week.

"It's been incredibly heartening to see how cricket brings people together," he said.

The coroner's formal findings will be handed down before Christmas.