Manchester Originals’ Sonny Baker is capable of bowling consistently in excess of 90mph and has already drawn comparisons to a certain legendary Australian
He has been compared to Brett Lee, tipped as a wildcard pick for this winter’s Ashes tour of Australia and tormented some of the best batters in the world during this year’s Hundred.
Meet Sonny Baker, England’s newest fast-bowling sensation.
The 22-year-old only made his County Championship debut in April but a haul of 19 wickets at 36.10 for Hampshire has been followed up by a breakthrough year in the Hundred for Manchester Originals and a first England call-up for next month’s white-ball series against South Africa and Ireland.
Capable of bowling consistently in excess of 90 miles per hour, his duel with David Warner in the Hundred earlier this month, when he had the former Australia opener hopping around during his first five balls – all dots – in a match against London Spirit caught the attention of the wider public.
A hat-trick against Northern Superchargers, led by England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook, followed.
Among his list of victims in this year’s Hundred are Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy.
Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson have also looked uncomfortable against Baker, who in this year’s tournament has bowled more deliveries in excess of 87mph than Jofra Archer.
No wonder he has been touted as a potential surprise pick for the Ashes, with former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain both talking up his chances.
Yet it is a former Australia player who has perhaps paid him his biggest compliment yet, with Simon Katich, Baker’s coach at the Originals, telling The i Paper that the youngster reminds him of Lee, one of only three men to have broken the 100mph-barrier in international cricket.
“He’s very exciting,” Katich says.
“You know, there’s a lot of mannerisms I see in him from a former teammate of mine – Brett Lee. I know it’s hard to compare because Brett was obviously unbelievable for a 15-year period bowling 140kph-plus [87mph] and hitting over 160kph [Lee’s fastest delivery was 100.1mph].
“Look, there’s no doubt Sonny’s still got a long way to go to be able to have that longevity and to bowl at that pace, but I think he’s got the skill set that’s very exciting for English cricket.”
Baker made his first-class debut on the Lions tour of Australia earlier this year (Photo: Getty)
Having been dogged by three stress fractures of the back before the age of 20, Baker’s regimen of drinking bone broth is one of the many idiosyncrasies that sets him apart.
Highly-educated, Baker was offered a place at Oxford University to study biology before settling on a career in cricket.
But his fastidious note-taking is another quirk, with his plans for batters, pieces of advice and hopes and aims for the future all jotted down.
With his body now holding up and his experience this summer helping him find his groove as a fast bowler, there is hope that Baker might be able to bowl even quicker in the future.
“Hopefully, I’m no expert when it comes to the biomechanics of fast-bowling, but in terms of just how he prepares and his physique,” Katich says.
“He’s a strong young lad, very diligent with his body, looks after himself and that’s something I saw first-hand with Brett in terms of how disciplined he was in making sure he stayed on the park.
“I think just in terms of, probably not swagger, but just his presence and the fact he wanted the new ball, Sonny’s set the tone early and can swing the ball both ways. I think that’s a real asset.
“It’s not just his pace, he’s had really good control and good skill in this tournament. He’s used his slower ball well, he’s had really good control of his line and when a young quick is able to do that you do get excited because the control factor is not easy to have when you’re bowling at that pace.”
Baker will have his work cut out to make England’s Ashes squad if all the other fast bowlers are fit, with the likes of Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue ahead of him.
Yet he is likely to be in Australia anyway with the Lions squad that will shadow the main group throughout the series.
From there, opportunity could come knocking if circumstances align.
It is with the Lions in Australia last winter that Baker first laid down a marker for his England ambitions, taking 3 for 60 in an unofficial Test against Australia A in Sydney.
And Katich believes it might be in England’s interest to include Baker in the Ashes squad.
“There’d certainly be no harm in taking him,” he said.
“England have got a number of good options and Sonny could well be another one of them to see how he goes and give him some experience around the group.”
There are no qualms, though, about Baker stepping up to international cricket when he joins England’s white-ball set-up next month.
“I just think it’s great exposure for him,” Katich says.
“He’s earned it through his performance all summer. Having watched him in all formats for Hampshire, he’s bowled some really good spells in the County Championship as well at times on some flat surfaces. So he’s exciting and I think he’ll be able to adapt across all formats.
“He’s got a unique skillset where he can swing the ball both ways and he’s got good air speed.”
As for that battle with Warner earlier this month, Katich adds: “Sonny worked him over beautifully.
“Just in terms of the planning that goes into that, he sits in the meetings, writes his notes, he’s diligent in wanting to learn about how to go about things and outthink the batter.
“On that occasion, it was superb to watch and I think that’s why people get excited because of the quality of player he’s bowling to and the standard of competition we’re in.”
There is a lot to get excited about with Baker, and he may be unsettling Australian batters again this winter if his meteoric rise continues.