Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson has revealed that his gamers are ‘nonetheless attempting to course of’ the tragic dying of younger spinner Josh Baker, as they resume their season per week on from his sudden passing.
Grieving gamers returned to coaching for the primary time on Tuesday, the place they had been joined by Baker’s dad and mom, Paul and Lisa, who hung out with their late son’s mates and team-mates.
The 20-year-old was discovered useless in his condo by a pal after he did not flip up for the beginning of play on the third day of Worcestershire’s match towards Somerset final week.
Richardson paid tribute to Baker as he opened up on the affect of the teenager’s dying on the staff forward of their County Championship conflict towards Kent.
‘Guys are nonetheless attempting to course of it,’ he advised The Guardian. ‘Lots of them have by no means skilled grief earlier than. There may be nonetheless shock and plenty of disappointment that may preserve coming to the floor as we hit completely different milestones alongside the best way.
Grieving Worcestershire gamers returned to coaching on Tuesday following the dying of team-mate Josh Baker, 20
Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson (left) paid tribute to the gifted spinner and opened up on the affect of his dying on the squad
Baker was discovered useless in his condo on Thursday, Might 2 and gamers had been ‘distressed’ at being examined unexpectedly
‘It was extremely powerful being again within the week. As quickly as you went into the dressing room and noticed Josh’s locker, you simply anticipated him to be there.
‘He was a extremely particular particular person: gifted, aggressive, cussed and really, very humorous. Half an hour sitting with Josh on the balcony at New Highway was all the time entertaining.
‘The lads had been so appreciative of Paul and Lisa coming to our first session again. They’ve been big supporters of Josh and the membership.
‘And the response from the cricket neighborhood, each nationally and internationally, simply reveals how shut it may be. The tributes which have are available in have been an enormous consolation for us and his household.
‘There’s no expectation on any of the gamers and employees proper now; coaching has been optionally available, choice optionally available, and if guys weren’t prepared that was positive.
‘We have now advised them it’s OK to be nervous or scared about what emotions may come on the sphere. We’ll all take it at our personal tempo and guys will react otherwise.’
Worcestershire gamers’ return was made harder by the arrival of drug testers to the location.
The UK Anti-Doping company apologised however membership officers had been ‘offended and dismayed’ and the Skilled Cricketers’ Affiliation (PCA) has expressed their ‘shock’.
UKAD’s spot-testing go to was scheduled however the membership was not notified upfront, as is protocol.
Baker was enjoying in a second staff recreation towards Somerset, taking three wickers on Wednesday
‘It’s at finest insensitive and at worst incompetent,’ PCA chief govt Rob Lynch advised The Telegraph.
He continued: ‘However we’re very upset that widespread sense didn’t prevail on this event and Ukad didn’t suppose to postpone this spherical of testing for a short time to permit the gamers area as they return to work at a desperately troublesome time that has created headline information and rocked our sport.’
It’s understood that UKAD’s go to was unrelated to Baker’s dying.
Baker had been part-way by a second staff match in his residence county when he died, with the match deserted and dominated a draw following the information. An inquest is underway to ascertain his reason for dying.
The gifted spinner began his cricket journey at New Highway, the place his skills had been seen early on.
He represented England at U-19 degree, whereas concurrently signing his first skilled contract with the Worcestershire County Cricket Membership aged 17 in 2021.
From there Baker continued to impress, signing a three-year cope with the membership in 2022.
Baker is credited as enjoying an instrumental position in Worcestershire’s promotion from Championship Division Two, enjoying a pivotal position in each the red-ball and white-formats.
The left-arm bowler was a travelling reserve for England on the Below-19 World Cup in 2022
His dad and mom, Paul and Lisa Baker, wrote on Fb: ‘We’re each damaged. Achieved so lots of his desires 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 thus far – preserve sharing and posting your reminiscences please.’
