Hampshire's fast bowler, Sonny Baker, has been praised for his exceptional talent, with a 'huge ceiling' ahead of him. The 23-year-old took five wickets in Hampshire's recent County Championship match against Somerset, finishing with 5-62 from 17 overs. Although his efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team, Baker's performance has further strengthened his case for an England call-up.
Hampshire captain, Ben Brown, expressed his admiration for Baker, stating that he has been 'absolutely brilliant all game and all season.' Brown highlighted Baker's ability to bowl at high speeds, often reaching the 90 mph mark, making him a formidable opponent for batsmen. Baker's third career five-for has taken his wicket tally to 13 in the first three games of the County Championship, with an average of 21.84.
His impressive form may lead to a first England Test call-up against New Zealand on June 4. However, Baker's previous experience in international cricket has been mixed, struggling in his one-day international debut against South Africa and his T20I debut against Ireland.
Despite this, a successful 2025 Hundred tournament for Manchester Originals had put Baker on England's radar, and he was awarded a one-year central contract in November, indicating that he remains a key player for the selectors in 2026.