Cricket Dec 07, 2025

England vs South Africa: Sonny Baker suffers tough debut but seems to have character needed for international cricket

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
England vs South Africa: Sonny Baker suffers tough debut but seems to have character needed for international cricket

Your England debut is something you will remember forever - but for Sonny Baker it is something he will probably wish to forget.

The fast bowler and Ashes prospect was handed his chance against South Africa in the first ODI on Tuesday and proceeded to suffer a golden duck before being flogged for 76 runs from a wicketless seven overs as the tourists coasted to victory.

Baker shipped 56 from his first four overs at Headingley with Proteas opener Aiden Markam giving him a stark realisation of how brutal the international game can be if you are even marginally off.

Here is how the 22-year-old's eye-watering first spell panned out…

At that point Baker was withdrawn from the attack but he would return to bowl the 12th over, one which began with five dot deliveries to Markram before a wide and a single.

He also bowled the 14th and 16th overs and although he was clubbed for three more boundaries across those, one of the fours came via a loose top edge from Rickelton.

You could only commend Baker for the way he fought back from his chastening first taste of this level, with his captain Harry Brook and the man responsible for his expensive figures, Markram, both giving the Hampshire seamer their seal of approval.

Brook said: "Baker got a bit of tap at the start but the way he kept trucking in and giving 100 per cent was awesome to see. That's what we ask for from our bowlers."

Markram added: "There has been some really good talk about him and his ability. If he has got it on a string, he will be really good bowler for sure."

The talent Baker has - the ability to move the ball at high pace - should help him rebound from this tough start but more so his character, which was in evidence during a successful Hundred stint with Manchester Originals last month.

Joe Root, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith were some of the game's leading lights to be put under the pump by Baker during that competition.

He had them "on toast" to use Brook's words.

And you could tell from Baker's interview with Michael Atherton on the morning of his England debut that he might have the personality required for the big leagues.

In a bubbly, down-to-earth chat, he revealed he thought the call announcing his selection for this series was fake and spoke about how having Warner et al hopping around in The Hundred had given him confidence as he steps up again.

He also chatted about picking the brains of England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson during Originals duty and insisted he wasn't getting caught up in Ashes fever just yet: "Selection is nothing to do with me, I just try and do what I do."

But what really shone through was Baker's love of the battle - and bowling quickly.

"Bowling fast is the most fun thing about the sport. It's exciting. There's a reason Jofra Archer has such a following, Mark Wood similar.

"That's how I want to be, how I want to bowl. I attribute a lot of my speed to the fact I really want to do it.

"As a fast bowler you are going to go for runs and get injured but that's okay as long as you are at peace with that.

"That comes with the fun part of making people duck and knocking poles out of the ground."

The beaming smile on Baker's face disappeared somewhat as he was being carted around by Markram.

England perhaps did not help by giving him the first over with the Proteas chasing only a measly 132 after a dismal batting collapse for the hosts of 8-49 from 82-2.

But the positives were Baker's attitude and the fact that he now knows what the international arena is all about.

Ex-South Africa seamer Shaun Pollock added of Baker: "He has the raw ingredients. He gets the ball to move and that is probably the most difficult thing to teach a person who bowls at such high speed.

"This is a learning experience and he will definitely be better for it. You can tell him about the difference in intensity and quality until you are red in the face but he will only understand it now.

"He will realise he has to be more consistent, not offer up balls easy to put away. He has energy and enthusiasm but that only takes you so far. You need skill and control."

Watch England's second ODI against South Africa, at Lord's, live on SportNews Cricket and SportNews Main Event from 12.30pm on Thursday (1pm first ball) or

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