Worcestershire pay tribute to cricketer Josh Baker after his death aged 20

The Worcestershire cricket team is feeling intense sadness and sorrow over the loss of Josh Baker, a talented young left-arm spinner who has passed away at the tender age of 20.

During this week, Baker participated in a 4-day cricket match against Somerset at Bromsgrove school. On the third day of the match, he managed to claim three wickets. However, on the fourth day, he didn't appear. The club informed the public about his death on Thursday, and as a result, the remainder of the match was abandoned during the lunch break.

Ashley Giles, the head of the club, expressed how heartbroken they all feel after hearing about Josh's passing. Josh was more than just a teammate, but a vital part of their cricket family. His absence will be felt greatly. The club sends their love and thoughts to Josh's loved ones in this difficult time.

At this moment, there is no information available about the cause of the individual's death. The governing body of Worcestershire has requested privacy to talk to the parents of the individual about a suitable way to remember them. The team is providing support to all the members who are deeply saddened by this news.

The team expressed that they are all mourning together and are determined to pay tribute to his legacy in a way that is appropriate for the extraordinary individual he was.

His lively character and contagious passion made people gravitate towards him. His amiability, generosity, and proficiency were exceptional, making him a genuine asset to his family and a cherished member of our group.

Redditch-born Baker, who attended Malvern College, took his cricket career from county age-groups to the professional level in 2021. He played 22 games in the first-class category, with 43 wickets under his belt, and even represented England twice at the under-19 level.

The year 2022 saw a match where Ben Stokes scored 34 runs against a spin bowler in the Championship. After the game, Stokes reached out to the young spinner to acknowledge his tremendous potential and emphasized that his performance in those six deliveries should not define him.

People thought Baker was a talented all-rounder after his excellent performance in the last season where he scored his personal best of 75 runs and helped his team win against Gloucestershire. In the final match of the season at Headingley, he scored the runs that led to Worcestershire’s promotion back to Division One. He then spent the winter playing in a cricket club in Australia.