Josh Baker (cricketer)

Josh Baker

Baker in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Josh Oliver Baker
Born	(2003-05-16)16 May 2003 Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Died	2 May 2024(2024-05-02) (aged 20)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Slow left-arm orthodox
Role	Bowler
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2021–2024	Worcestershire (squad no. 33)
First-class debut	11 July 2021 Worcestershire v Warwickshire
List A debut	25 July 2021 Worcestershire v Kent
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20 Matches 22 17 8 Runs scored 411 100 14 Batting average 16.44 14.28 3.50 100s/50s 0/2 0/0 0/0 Top score 75 25 5 Balls bowled 3,728 789 132 Wickets 43 24 3 Bowling average 49.53 31.25 68.66 5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 Best bowling 4/51 3/29 2/26 Catches/stumpings 20/– 4/– 4/–
Source: ESPNCricinfo

Josh Oliver Baker (16 May 2003 – 2 May 2024) was an English cricketer.[1][2] Born in Redditch, Worcestershire,[1] he was a student at Malvern College from 2016 to 2021.[3] He made his first-class debut on 11 July 2021, for Worcestershire in the 2021 County Championship,[4] after signing a rookie contract with the club the previous day.[5] He made his List A debut on 25 July 2021, for Worcestershire in the 2021 Royal London One-Day Cup.[6]

In December 2021, he was named as one of two reserve players in England's team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.[7] He made his Twenty20 debut on 25 May 2022, for the Worcestershire Rapids in the 2022 T20 Blast.[8] In August 2022, Baker sustained a lower back injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season.[9]  On 21 March 2023, he signed three-year deal at Worcestershire County Cricket Club.[10]

Baker died on 2 May 2024, at the age of 20, after collapsing due to an undiagnosed heart defect.[11][12][13] On 9 May 2024, Worcestershire announced that all players would wear the 33 jerseys for the rest of the domestic season as a tribute to him.[14] Worcestershire retired the number 33 shirt in Baker's memory in September 2024.[15]

References

1. "Josh Baker". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
2. "Josh Baker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
3. Lyndon-Griffiths, Hamilton (3 May 2024). "Malvern College devastated by ex-pupil Josh Baker's death". Malvern Gazette. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
4. "Group 1, Worcester, Jul 11 - 14 2021, County Championship". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
5. "Academy spinner Josh Baker signs rookie contract with Worcestershire CCC". Worcestershire Cricket. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
6. "Group 2, Worcester, Jul 25 2021, Royal London One-Day Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
7. "Young Lions announce England U19 World Cup squad". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
8. "North Group (D/N), Leeds, May 25, 2022, Vitality Blast". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
9. "Injury update from Worcestershire as key man ruled out for the season". Worcester News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
10. "Promising teenage cricket star commits future to Worcestershire County Cricket Club". Worcester News. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
11. "Josh Baker death: Worcestershire have lost "brilliant guy and fantastic cricketer", says former coach". BBC Sport. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
12. "Worcestershire County Cricket Club Announces the Heartbreaking Passing of Josh Baker". Worcestershire CCC. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
13. "Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker passes away aged 20". Cricbuzz. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
14. "BBC News". Retrieved 10 May 2024.
15. "Worcestershire retire Baker's shirt number 33". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 September 2024.

External links

• Josh Baker at ESPNcricinfo