Josh Oliver Baker (16 May 2003 – 2 May 2024) was an English cricketer.[1][2] Born in Redditch, Worcestershire,[1] he was a student at Malvern College from 2016 to 2021.[3] He made his first-class debut on 11 July 2021, for Worcestershire in the 2021 County Championship,[4] after signing a rookie contract with the club the previous day.[5] He made his List A debut on 25 July 2021, for Worcestershire in the 2021 Royal London One-Day Cup.[6]
 Baker in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Josh Oliver Baker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 May 2003 Redditch, Worcestershire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 May 2024 (aged 20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Worcestershire (squad no. 33) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First-class debut | 11 July 2021 Worcestershire v Warwickshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| List A debut | 25 July 2021 Worcestershire v Kent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNCricinfo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In December 2021, he was named as one of two reserve players in England's team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.[7] He made his Twenty20 debut on 25 May 2022, for the Worcestershire Rapids in the 2022 T20 Blast.[8] In August 2022, Baker sustained a lower back injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season.[9] On 21 March 2023, he signed three-year deal at Worcestershire County Cricket Club.[10]
Baker died on 2 May 2024, at the age of 20.[11][12][13]
On 9 May 2024, Worcestershire announced that all players would wear the 33 jerseys for the rest of the domestic season as a tribute to him.[14]