Worcestershire CCC spinner Josh Baker will be one of England Under-19s most experienced players in terms of first team appearances, when he flies out with the squad on Sunday for the tour of Sri Lanka.
Baker only broke into the Worcestershire senior side in July after taking a hat-trick for the Seconds in a Championship match against Nottinghamshire Seconds.
But he clocked up 12 appearances – five in the LV=Insurance County Championship and seven in the Royal London Cup – before the end of the season during an impressive baptism.
Only Hampshire’s Tom Prest (16) and Sussex’s Dan Ibrahim (13) have made more first team appearances for their counties amongst the players in the 19 strong Under-19s squad.
Baker will be able to call upon his knowledge from making seven appearances in the Royal London Cup as England are playing five ODIs in the space of 11 days.
The former Malvern College pupil showed he has the nerve for such occasions when being asked to bowl the penultimate over against Gloucestershire at Bristol.
He conceded just four runs and picked up the wicket of Jack Taylor as the Rapids won a rain affected contest.
Batsman Jack Haynes, the last Worcestershire player to represent England Under-19s, believes Baker will gain great knowledge from the experience.
He said: “How much will it benefit him? Hugely. I loved my experience with the Under-19s. You travel around the world and challenge yourself against the best players in the world in your age group.
“That is going to be pretty special for him and it is fully deserved. He has had a great season and I can see him fitting into that fold (squad) really nicely.
“It is only going to be good for him in terms of improving his game, bowling in the sub continent which I’m sure will help, and I can see him going really well over there.
“Did it help to improve me as a player? Definitely. I was lucky enough to play in a few series and it fills your winters up playing good, quality cricket.
“It also helps you to ease back into the summer so you don’t feel like you’ve had a massive break when you are away for the winters playing.
“I also played in a couple of summer series and they do test you. It can only help really and I’m sure that will be case with Josh.”
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TOUR SCHEDULE
1st ODI – Sri Lanka v England, Tuesday 30 November 2021, SSC Ground, Colombo
2nd ODI – Sri Lanka v England, Friday 3 December 2021, SSC Ground, Colombo
3rd ODI – Sri Lanka v England, Sunday 5 December 2021, SSC Ground, Colombo
4th ODI – Sri Lanka v England, Wednesday 8 December 2021, SSC Ground, Colombo
5th ODI – Sri Lanka v England, Friday 10 December 2021, SSC Ground, Colombo
