The gentle thud of leather on willow, the roar of a crowd as a ball sails over the boundary rope, the familiar hum of a cricket broadcast – these are the sounds that now bring a measure of peace to Paul and Karen Baker. For the parents of the late, immensely talented Worcestershire cricketer Josh Baker, who died suddenly in May 2024 at the age of just 20, the game their son loved has become an unexpected source of solace. As England's men's team tours Australia for a white-ball series, Paul and Karen have found themselves drawn to the coverage, feeling a profound and surprising connection to their son on the other side of the world.
A Bond Forged in Cricket and Family
Josh Baker was a rising star, a left-arm spinner with a beaming smile and a fierce competitive spirit who had already made a significant mark at New Road. His passing sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, leaving a void impossible to fill. For his parents, the initial months were a blur of unimaginable grief. "The world just stopped," Karen tells BBC Sport. "Everything you knew, everything you planned for, it all just vanished." In the depths of that loss, the idea of watching cricket, the sport that had defined so much of their family life, felt almost impossible.
Yet, as the English summer turned to autumn and the international schedule moved on, something subtle began to shift. "We started to put the TV on in the background," Paul explains. "Not really watching, just listening. It was a familiar noise, a connection to him." That connection deepened with the start of England's tour of Australia. Josh had never played professionally there, but the country held a special place in his aspirations and in the family's shared cricket-watching rituals.
"We Feel Closer to Him Here"
The time difference means matches are played through the UK night, filling the quiet, dark hours that can be the hardest. "There's a strange comfort in it," Karen says. "Sitting up, watching the game from Melbourne or Sydney, it feels like we're in a different space with him." Paul elaborates on this poignant sentiment: "It sounds odd to say, but we feel closer to him in Australia. Maybe it's because it's so far away, a place he dreamed of playing, or because we're all awake when everyone else is asleep. It feels like our time, our connection."
This connection is woven through the fabric of the game itself. They watch England's spinners, like Adil Rashid and Tom Hartley, and see echoes of Josh's craft. They hear commentators discuss flight, turn, and field placements – the technical language that was once the soundtrack of their daily lives. "We hear a term like 'arm ball' or see a batter dance down the wicket, and we'll just look at each other and smile," Paul shares. "We know exactly what Josh would have been thinking in that moment."
The Community That Carries Them
The Bakers have been profoundly supported by the cricketing family, from Worcestershire CCC – who have immortalised Josh with a commemorative shirt number and a permanent locker – to opponents, fans, and the wider professional network. This support has been a lifeline, manifesting in ways both big and small during the Australia tour:
- Messages from the Tour: England players and staff, many of whom knew Josh from age-group cricket or county encounters, have been in touch.
- A Shared Language: Social media fills with tributes from fans using the hashtag #ForBakes, creating a visible wave of remembrance during matches.
- The Power of Ritual: Simply watching the game has become a therapeutic ritual, a way to actively remember rather than passively grieve.
"The cricket community hasn't let us go," Karen states, her voice thick with emotion. "They've wrapped their arms around us and they're still holding on. When we see that support, even from thousands of miles away, it tells us his memory is alive in the game he loved."
Carrying Forward a Legacy of Joy
Dealing with such a loss is a journey with no map. The Bakers are navigating it with remarkable courage, openly discussing their pain to help others and to honour Josh's vibrant spirit. They speak of the importance of talking, of seeking support, and of finding those unique touchpoints that bridge the gap between despair and memory. For them, one of those touchpoints is currently broadcasting from Australian cricket grounds.
"Josh played the game with such joy and cheek," Paul recalls. "He loved the battle, he loved the camaraderie. When we watch now, we try to focus on that joy." They laugh remembering his competitive streak, his meticulous note-taking on opponents, and the sheer passion he brought to every session, whether in the nets or in the middle.
The tour will end, but the Bakers' connection through cricket will not. They are involved in the Joshua Baker Foundation, established to support young cricketers and promote mental health awareness, ensuring his legacy positively impacts future generations. They know the grief will ebb and flow, but they have found a tool to help them weather the storm. "It's not about moving on," Karen clarifies. "It's about learning to carry him with us. And right now, watching cricket, especially cricket in Australia, helps us do that."
As another day's play begins under the bright Antipodean sun, Paul and Karen Baker will be watching, together, in their home in England. The distance is vast, but the feeling is intimate. In the strategy, the skill, and the shared love of the game, they find a thread that ties them to their son, proving that even in the deepest loss, connection can be found in the most unexpected of places – even on a cricket pitch twelve thousand miles away.