Who Was Josh Baker, The 20-Year-Old English Cricketer Who Passed Away?

Here's all the crucial information about Josh Baker, an English cricketer from Worcestershire, who passed away at the age of 20.

Josh Baker, a young English bowling all-rounder, tragically passed away at the age of 20 on May 2 (Thursday). Representing Worcestershire in English county cricket, Baker was found deceased at home by a friend after he failed to appear in an ongoing county match. Refraining from disclosing the cause of Baker's demise, Worcestershire County Cricket Club has urged everyone to respect the privacy of his family during this challenging period.

Ashley Giles, the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Worcestershire County Cricket Club and a former England spinner, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Baker.

"The news of Josh’s passing has left us all devastated. Josh was much more than a teammate; he was an integral part of our cricket family. We will all miss him terribly. All our love and prayers go out to Josh’s family and friends," Giles said as per the statement released by the Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

Who Was Josh Baker?

Baker was born on May 16 in 2003. Hailing from Redditch in Worcestershire, he grew up at New Road and showcased his talent by representing England at the U-19 level. He signed his first contract with the Worcestershire County Cricket Club at the age of 17 in 2021. Last year, he inked a new three-year contract with the club after recuperating from a back injury sustained in 2022. His contribution to five Championship games proved instrumental in Worcestershire's triumph, securing promotion from Championship Division Two.

An all-rounder, Josh Baker played as a left-arm spin bowler and right-handed batter. He played in 22 First-Class and 24 List A matches, taking 43 wickets. He also took 3 wickets in 8 T20 matches. In First-Class, he scored 411 runs, in List A, 100 runs, and in T20s, he scored 14 runs.

In 2022, during a Worcestershire vs Durham match, present England Test captain Ben Stokes hit Baker for 34 runs in a single over. Stokes later messaged Baker on WhatsApp, encouraging him and acknowledging his potential. Stokes emphasized the importance of support from teammates and shared his own experience of facing challenges in cricket, referring to his performance in a 2016 T20 World Cup final.

“You’ve got serious potential and [I] think you’ll go a long way. Most important opinion is from the lads in your changing-room and they will always have your back. This coming from someone who got meeeeeeeelted in a T20 World Cup final,” said Stokes to Baker.