Sonny Baker will wake up on Tuesday with a brand-new England cap waiting on the dresser. The 22-year-old Hampshire seamer, still green at List-A level, has been picked for the opening one-day international against South Africa at Headingley.
Eleven domestic 50-over matches and one eye-catching Hundred campaign – nine wickets for Manchester Originals, the speed gun nudging 90 mph – have proved enough. England coaches liked what they saw on a Lions tour last winter, rewarded him with a development contract in the spring and now, sooner than expected, an international debut.
He will share the pace duties with the returning Jofra Archer, who has not played an ODI since the 2023 Champions Trophy, and the bustling Brydon Carse. Harry Brook leads the side in his second series as captain, while Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett continue their slightly experimental opening partnership.
Brook could hardly hide his enthusiasm for the new recruit. “He’s been awesome in the Hundred,” Brook said. “We’ve seen him bowl at some of the best batters in the world and he had them on toast, so it’s been really good to see. He bowls at high pace and he can swing it both ways with exceptional death skills as well. To have him in the team and for him to be opening up tomorrow is awesome. I think there’s quite a lot of people excited to see where he goes.”
Pressed for specifics, Brook pointed to a few high-profile showdowns. “There have been a few moments. The spells he bowled to Williamson and Warner and then Smith and Bairstow, all four are world-class batters in the shorter format and he was all over them. He bowled with high pace and high skill. He was awesome to watch this year and everyone was talking about him.”
Could Baker’s speeds and swing eventually land him a Test spot? Brook kept the door ajar. “I don’t select the red-ball side, but yeah, he’s obviously done really well this summer and we’ll see how he goes tomorrow. He’s bowling at high pace with a lot of skill, and it looks like he has quite a lot about him as well.”
The match also marks Jamie Overton’s decision to focus solely on white-ball cricket, a reminder that opportunities can open quickly. For Baker, the immediate task is simpler: run in, hit the deck, and make the new white ball talk.
England XI for 1st ODI: Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (capt), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.
