A Difficult Start, But Far From the End
There are few things more unforgiving in cricket than a high-profile international debut gone wrong, and Sonny Baker knows exactly how that feels. The 23-year-old Hampshire quick had a torrid introduction to England's white-ball setup last summer, yet rather than retreating into his shell, Baker appears to have drawn genuine lessons from the experience. Having watched plenty of young fast bowlers struggle to rediscover themselves after early setbacks, I find that attitude genuinely encouraging.
In his sole ODI appearance, Baker conceded 76 runs without claiming a wicket against South Africa at Headingley — the most expensive figures ever recorded by an England bowler on debut. Context matters, of course; England had been skittled for 131 and were never really in the contest, leaving Baker exposed in the field. Still, figures like that leave a mark, however unfair the circumstances.
Dublin Was the Real Wake-Up Call
If Headingley stung, it was a T20 appearance against Ireland in Dublin three weeks later that prompted the sharper self-reflection. Baker gave away 52 runs from just four overs, and the telling detail wasn't simply the cost — it was why it happened. His younger brother Blaise put it plainly after the game, telling Baker he simply hadn't been himself out in the middle.
Baker has been candid about what went wrong. Speaking to BBC Sport, he explained: "I'm an absolute carry-on merchant. If someone plays and misses, I'm like, 'woooaaahhh'. I can't help but to give it a massive carry-on." Yet in Dublin, he was still mentally fighting the ghost of that ODI debut, playing cautiously rather than with his natural aggression and personality. "If I get someone to play and miss, I have to carry on like I normally do," he added. "There's no point worrying about what everyone will think. Who cares? That's how I am. I have to be authentic."
As a former coach, I've seen this pattern countless times. Young players arriving on the international stage and trying to be a slightly better-behaved version of themselves, rather than the instinctive performer who earned their place in the first place. Baker's self-awareness here is a real asset.
A Test Opportunity Arrives Through the Back Door
Circumstance has now opened a different kind of door. Baker has been named in England's XI for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, with his path cleared by a knee injury to Ollie Robinson and a suspension handed to Gus Atkinson following an incident in a London nightclub after the first Test victory at Lord's.
England's pace bowling resources have been stretched thin in recent years. Since 2023, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes and almost certainly Mark Wood have all departed the Test arena, collectively accounting for 1,619 international wickets. That is an extraordinary void to fill, and it means opportunities like this one are absolutely there for the taking. Baker's 44 first-class wickets at an average of 29.38 suggest he has the tools — now it's about backing himself.
The Bigger Picture for England's Pace Attack
For those watching the Test series markets, Baker's inclusion at The Oval is worth monitoring. An unknown quantity at this level, his pace — regularly touching 92mph — could prove decisive on a surface that typically offers bounce and carry as the match wears on. Bookmakers will be adjusting their player performance markets accordingly, and Baker's odds for top wicket-taker could represent decent value if he bowls with the freedom he's promised himself.
If Baker can walk out at The Oval and simply be the bowler Hampshire fans have grown to admire — aggressive, expressive, and quick — then this difficult debut chapter might turn out to be exactly the education he needed.
