The dad and mom of Worcestershire cricketer Josh Baker have revealed their devastation at his dying on Thursday on the age of simply 20.
Paul and Lisa Baker stated on Fb: ‘We’re each damaged. Achieved so lots of his goals earlier than reaching 21.
‘Take each alternative to hug your dad and mom and youngsters. We’ve taken nice consolation from the numerous messages acquired to date – preserve sharing and posting your reminiscences please.’
They accompanied the message with {a photograph} of them hugging their son on the boundary at Lord’s.
Josh was discovered useless at his house in Worcester after failing to show up for the third day of the county’s second XI recreation in opposition to Somerset in Bromgsrove. A coroner’s inquest is predicted to open subsequent week.
Josh Baker’s dad and mom Lisa and Paul took to Fb to share their devastation and thank mates and relations for sharing their reminiscences of their son
The spinner’s dying was introduced yesterday, sending the cricket world into mourning
Worcestershire on Friday opened a e-book of condolence within the Severn Suite at their New Highway headquarters, as tributes continued to pour in from mates and the cricket neighborhood around the globe describing Josh as an ‘inspiring’ and ‘real’ younger sportsman.
He honed his skills at Kenilworth wardens Sports activities Membership and at Malvern Faculty the place he additionally excelled at hockey.
Kim Tutcher, Josh’s former assistant to accommodate grasp, posted a transferring tribute saying: ‘I can nonetheless see you returning again to Malvern; cricket bag or golf bag in your again (and even each), mum following on with hangers filled with immaculately ironed shirts, dad carrying the vital luggage filled with package, snacks and goodies and treats and also you cuddling your all vital pillow.
‘I used to be so happy with the best way you embraced your diabetes, I by no means heard you’re feeling sorry for your self or let it maintain you again, you organised your drugs and informed me what to order, it made my job really easy.
‘All of us celebrated your signing for Worcestershire, a schoolboy at some point and a rookie skilled the subsequent.
‘Goals do come true, onerous work does repay, the love and help of household and mates is so vital and incalculable.
‘There’s a massive gap left in our lives, however it will likely be crammed with fantastic reminiscences of a gifted and enjoyable loving sportsman, who cruelly was taken far too quickly. Evening, night time Josh and thanks x.’
His former headmaster, Keith Metcalfe, Headmaster, stated at present: ‘We’re devastated by the heartbreaking information of the passing of Previous Malvernian, Josh Baker.
‘Josh was a well-loved member of the Faculty Home neighborhood and is fondly remembered by workers throughout the Faculty, not least for his successes in cricket.
‘Our complete neighborhood, previous and current, ship their condolences to Josh’s household, mates and teammates. They’re in our ideas and prayers.’
Josh’s dying is being investigated by Senior Worcestershire Coroner David Reid.
A spokeswoman stated: ‘We are able to verify that the Senior Coroner has acquired a referral reporting the unhappy dying of Joshua Baker.
‘There might be no additional info till additional investigations have taken place.’
Baker took three wickets in opposition to Somerset at Bromsgrove on Wednesday, with the sport deserted as a draw yesterday, and beforehand featured in two Vitality County Championship video games final month.
A matter of hours earlier than his passing, Worcestershire’s X account shared a compilation of the teen’s efforts throughout Wednesday’s session.
Worcestershire stated they had been ‘heartbroken’ on the dying of 20-year-old spinner Baker, who was discovered useless on Thursday
Baker was enjoying in a second crew recreation in opposition to Somerset when he was discovered by a pal
Baker picked up three wickets together with his left-arm orthodox bowling, dismissing Thomas Rew – brother of England hopeful James – Josh Thomas and present England star Jack Leach.
He can first be seen taking the wicket of wicketkeeper Rew through LBW, lodging a passionate attraction earlier than the umpire offers the choice as out.
The wicket of Leach then falls, with the Somerset man spooning a shot up into the air and Baker taking the catch off his personal bowling.
Thomas can then be seen falling in the identical manner, with Baker leaning ahead to take the catch.
Baker was due again on the sphere in Bromsgrove on Thursday however the recreation has now come to an finish, with Worcestershire’s first crew not in motion within the County Championship this week.
He had performed twice for his facet’s first crew this season.
A heartbreaking interview with Baker after he had simply signed a brand new take care of Worcestershire revealed him wanting ahead to the season forward.
He stated: ‘That was a day I actually loved. I did not handle to get any wickets however I batted fairly properly. My dad and mom had been there as effectively, which was good.
‘Hopefully I do not end on 61 and have a number of runs left in me. I am seeking to construct on that.’
Former England captain Michael Vaughan led tributes to Baker on social media from the broader cricketing world.
‘That is so unhappy.. Ideas with all his household & shut mates,’ Vaughan wrote.
No additional particulars have been shared in regards to the circumstances of the teen’s passing, with the membership requesting privateness and respect for his household.
The spinner performed 47 instances for county Worcestershire after turning into an expert in 2021
The left-arm bowler was a travelling reserve for England on the Beneath-19 World Cup in 2022
Worcestershire stated Baker had ‘vibrant spirit and infectious enthusiasm that endeared him to everybody he met’
Former England captain Michael Vaughan provided a tribute to Baker on social media
Worcestershire’s assertion referred to Baker’s ‘premature passing’ and requested for his household’s privateness to be revered.
The assertion learn: ‘Worcestershire County Cricket Membership is heartbroken to announce the premature passing of Josh Baker, who was aged solely 20 years previous.
‘Throughout this profoundly tough time, the membership is devoted to supporting Josh’s household, mates, and colleagues. We’re united in our grief and dedicated to honouring his reminiscence in a fashion befitting the exceptional particular person he was.
‘It was his vibrant spirit and infectious enthusiasm that endeared him to everybody he met. His heat, kindness, and professionalism had been exceptional, making him a real credit score to his household and a cherished member of our crew.
‘Plans to pay tribute to Josh might be made in session together with his household and can stay non-public right now. The membership, together with Josh’s household, requests the respect of privateness as we mourn this immense loss. Additional feedback is not going to be offered throughout this delicate interval.’
Worcestershire chief government, the previous England spinner Ashley Giles, provided a private message.
Worcestershire confirmed Baker’s dying on social media having performed for the second crew on Wednesday
The ECB stated it’s ‘desperately unhappy to study of the passing of Baker’
‘The information of Josh’s passing has left us all devastated. Josh was way more than a team-mate; he was an integral a part of our cricket household. We’ll all miss him terribly. All our love and prayers exit to Josh’s household and mates,’ stated Giles.
Baker took a complete of 43 wickets in 22 First-Class appearances, the final of which coming in opposition to Durham lower than a fortnight in the past.
He additionally performed 17 Listing A video games and eight T20s and was a travelling reserve for England on the Beneath-19 World Cup in 2022.
The England and Wales Cricket Board additionally provided their condolences to Baker’s household and mates.
‘The ECB is desperately unhappy to study of the passing of Josh Baker,’ an announcement learn.
Ben Stokes had beforehand despatched a message to Baker after the 2 performed in opposition to one another
‘That is devastating information. We prolong our greatest needs to Josh’s household and mates, to everybody who knew and cherished him, and to everybody at Worcestershire CCC.’
Daryl Mitchell, chief working officer on the Skilled Cricketers’ Affiliation and one time Worcestershire team-mate of Baker, wrote: ‘Bakes was an infectious character that turned the life and soul of the dressing room at such a younger age. Ideas with the household and everybody at WCCC.’
Pakistan spinner Usama Mir, one other former New Highway colleague of Baker’s, added: ‘So unhappy and upset to listen to the information of Josh’s passing. He was one of many nicest folks you might meet. And a superb cricketer. Actually devastated to listen to this information. Ideas and prayers together with his household.’
PCA chief government Rob Lynch stated the information was ‘inconceivable to understand’, whereas the ECB’s managing director of males’s cricket, Rob Key, tweeted: ‘That is completely heartbreaking. My ideas exit to all of Josh’s household.’
England captain Ben Stokes despatched Baker a heartwarming message after they confronted off on-the-field two years in the past.
Stokes smashed 5 sixes off Baker’s bowling in a single over within the recreation when the spinner was simply 18, however took the time to ship him a textual content message of encouragement within the aftermath.
‘You have acquired critical potential and I feel you will go a good distance,’ Stokes wrote. ‘Most vital opinion is from the lads in your altering room, and they’ll have your again.’
Final 12 months, A video of Stokes’ innings within the recreation was shared by cricket publication Wisden on X (previously Twitter), and Baker replied to the put up, which options a few of Stokes’ photographs off the then-teenager’s bowling.
‘A day to recollect…’ Baker wrote, accompanied by a face with a peeking eye emoji. The put up was Baker’s final earlier than his dying.
