Sonny Baker: The first man to make his T20 debut in The Hundred

JAMIE GREEN - INTERVIEW: Last week, the 19-year-old right-arm pace bowler from Torquay capped a rapid rise by making his Hundred debut for Brave in their nine-wicket win over Welsh Fire

Jamie Green | 30/08/2022 at 10:32

"I tried cricket because I was terrible at other sports."

That's Somerset and Southern Brave bowler Sonny Baker's recollection of his first inauspicious steps in what has become a highly promising career.

Last week, the 19-year-old right-arm pace bowler from Torquay capped a rapid rise by making his Hundred debut for Brave in their nine-wicket win over Welsh Fire. By appearing at Sophia Gardens, Baker became the first man to play in The Hundred without previously playing a T20 match.

Baker admits that cricket had been something of a last resort at primary school.

He says: "I tried to get into both school football teams as an outfield player, but was unsuccessful. I tried to get in as a goalkeeper. That was unsuccessful too. I tried tag rugby and that didn't go down too well either. So I gave cricket a go."

It turned out to be a wise decision. Baker started out at Torquay CC, before playing for local district teams, Devon age-group sides, and finally the Somerset Academy.

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^{Sonny Baker made his T20 debut in The Hundred for Southern Brave [Getty Images]}

"At 17, I was thinking that cricket wasn't a realistic option for me as I wasn't in the academy and I'd just had a stress fracture, so I really got stuck into my academic work."

Things started to happen quickly once Baker had signed his academy contract, however. Only nine months later, in August 2021, he was selected by Trent Rockets as an injury replacement for The Hundred, having just signed a first professional deal with Somerset after impressing in the Royal London Cup.

Baker may have been a new face to many when he was drafted into the Rockets squad shortly after receiving his A Level results, but he was by no means the only former pupil of King's College, Taunton to be involved in the competition. Jos Buttler, Will Smeed, Tom Banton and Calvin Harrison all attended the school at various points.

Baker says: "I didn't get to play with Will Smeed or Tom Banton. But I definitely knew about them when I was at King's and about everyone else who had been to the school. Success breeds more success, so the next Will Smeed or Tom Banton will want to go to King's and achieve the same as them. Having the opportunity to train like a professional makes a massive difference."

News of Baker's first Hundred call-up in 2021 came following a surprise conversation with Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry.

"Sarge (Hurry) pulled me aside after the Royal London game against Warwickshire. I'd bowled the last over with them needing one to win and I'd bowled a no-ball full-toss first up so I was gutted and thought 'I'm in trouble here'. But Sarge just told me that he'd had (Trent Rockets general manager) Mick Newell on the phone and he wanted me as a replacement for Wahab Riaz.

"I didn't know who Mick was at the time. It was my first season in professional cricket, so I didn't even know who some people at Somerset were, but it was a fantastic opportunity. I just sat there stunned for a while after we spoke."

Baker didn't play for Rockets, but feels he gained a huge amount from the experience.

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^{Baker has broken through the ranks at Somerset [Getty Images]}

"Some of the conversations I had with Wahab Riaz were incredible, especially about death bowling, and Luke Wood and Steve Mullaney were phenomenal as well. That's without even mentioning (Rockets and Somerset team-mate) Marchant de Lange, who's been a role model and just a top bloke ever since he came in. I think Marchant probably took a liking to me because I try to bowl as fast as I can."

Baker's eagerness to keep learning is obvious. He mentions numerous players and coaches whom he's asked for advice, including current Southern Brave coach Mahela Jayawardene.

"There's so much you can learn from being in a different environment, so I've been trying to take everything out of it that I possibly can. I've been clarifying field placings with Mahela and I've still got a list of other questions for him," he says.

The seamer's career has not been without its setbacks, most notably when a stress fracture to his lower back ruled Baker out of the Under-19 World Cup in early 2022 after bowling just one over in the opening warm-up game.

"I want to make sure I'm in the Somerset side first before I start worrying about international T20s or Test cricket"

"To have led the attack in the home series against West Indies (in 2021) and then not be able to play at the World Cup was a tough one to take, especially knowing that was my one chance to play in it."

It took until August of this year for Baker to play again. After being hit for 38 runs in 11 balls on his return against Nottinghamshire in the Royal London Cup, he bounced back to claim career-best figures of 6 for 46 against Durham six days later.

After three more wickets against Middlesex, Baker was called up for Southern Brave, his second opportunity in The Hundred coming about because of an injury to fellow paceman Tymal Mills.

Baker's status as the first man to make his T20 debut in a Hundred match has attracted some comment. Although this is partly down to his sudden rise to prominence, it's also fair to say that he may well have played in the Blast for Somerset this summer had it not been for his back injury.

As Baker discusses his comeback, it's clear that the way in which he thinks about the game is developing as quickly as his bowling.

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^{The seamer missed the Under-19 World Cup through injury [Getty Images]}

"Because I'm still recovering, I'm only allowed to bowl on matchdays. I really like routines and am quite big on structure. Having to completely scrap that and mentally get myself in a place where I can still perform has been really tough, but having to be adaptable has been really helpful for me," he says.

"I'm the kind of guy who likes to bowl every delivery I have a couple of days before the game. I was bowling cutters in the warm-up before my home debut for Brave in the Rockets game, and I was thinking: 'Oh my God, I've only bowled about four of these in matches', so I was pretty nervous to bring them out, especially when my first ball to Dawid Malan slipped down the leg-side," he continues.

Baker's use of the data provided to him on Malan by Brave analyst Joe Maiden is equally indicative of a young player who thinks deeply about the game.

"We focused on my strengths first of all. Bowling at Malan, you usually want to cramp him for room and stop him scoring on the off-side, but I normally come around the wicket and shape the ball away from left-handers. So I try to do what I do well first, and then I can always go tighter later on if the batter's flying."

The plan nearly worked. Malan, who played with Baker's father at Oundle Town CC, nearly became Baker junior's maiden Hundred wicket, only for Michael Hogan to spill the chance.

Baker continued: "Joe (Maiden) is fantastic. I've asked him if he can give me all the info on Phoenix, Invincibles and Spirit, just so I can get my head around what it would have been like to bowl at people like Jason Roy and Will Smeed."

Baker's learning isn't restricted to the cricket field. He's preparing to start a distance-learning degree in biology with the Open University in October after using his time on the sidelines to do further reading on everything from leadership to diet.

Although his professional experience has so far been restricted to short-form cricket, Baker is very much open to a future in the longer form of the game.

"In my eyes, the pinnacle of cricket is the Ashes, it doesn't get any better than that. But it depends on what team you can get in and where the game takes me. I want to make sure I'm in the Somerset side first before I start worrying about international T20s or Test cricket."

Baker may have come a long way in a short space of time, but the obstacles he's already overcome mean he's taking nothing for granted. "You never know when your last game is. There have been plenty of people who've done relatively well at the start of their careers, and then they got one injury and it was curtains. I try to play every game like it's my last and I've been reminded of that this season. I've just tried to enjoy the experience, and that's put me in a good headspace for The Hundred."

There will be plenty of people at Taunton, the Ageas Bowl and beyond who will be hoping that Baker has plenty more games left in him. Football's and tag rugby's loss has very much been cricket's gain.