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Josh Baker (cricketer)

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Josh Baker
Baker in 2023
Personal information
Full name
Josh Oliver Baker
Born(2003-05-16)16 May 2003
Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Died2 May 2024(2024-05-02) (aged 20)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingSlow left-arm orthodox
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2021–2024Worcestershire (squad no. 33)
First-class debut11 July 2021 Worcestershire v Warwickshire
List A debut25 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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "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.
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