Worcestershire Cricket Membership have immediately paid tribute immediately to Josh Baker who sadly died, aged 20, final week.
Forward of their County Championship match towards Kent, their first sport since Baker handed away, either side held a minute’s silence which was adopted by a minute’s applause in reminiscence of the gifted spin bowler.
Worcestershire’s gamers additionally wore black arm bands for the sport at Canterbury, with Baker’s shirt quantity, 33, additionally being printed on their match shirts, just under the membership crest.
The membership revealed that the quantity 33 will keep on their participant’s shirts all through the season.
The Pears wrote on X (previously Twitter): ‘In loving reminiscence of Josh Baker, No 33 can be a logo of braveness and inspiration on our shirts for the remainder of the season.
Worcestershire and Kent gamers immediately paid tribute to Josh Baker who handed away final week
Worcestershire gamers wore black arm bands and had Baker’s quantity 33 printed on their shirts in tribute to their team-mate
Worcestershire cricket star, Baker, tragically handed away final week, on the age of 20
‘Every sport will carry ahead his legacy, touching hearts and exemplifying the spirit of cricket and Worcestershire County Cricket Membership each on and off the sector.’
Tributes have additionally been paid on the different 5 County Championship video games happening immediately, with Surrey and Nottinghamshire each sending their condolences to Baker’s household and buddies.
Surrey, who tackle Warwickshire at The Oval on Friday, printed a number of photos of their workforce observing a minute’s silence on X (previously Twitter) whereas writing: ‘A minute’s silence was impeccably noticed earlier than play in reminiscence of Josh Baker. Our ideas are with Josh’s household, buddies and all people at @WorcsCCC.’
Nottinghamshire play Lancashre at Trent Bridge and equally wrote on X: ‘Remembering Josh Baker. Our ideas and condolences to Josh’s household, buddies and all at @WorcsCCC.’
Grieving gamers had returned to coaching with on Tuesday and have been joined by Baker’s dad and mom, Paul and Lisa, who frolicked with the facet.
The spin bowler had been discovered useless in his appartment by a pal after he didn’t flip up for the beginning of play on the third day of his workforce’s match towards Somerset final week.
He had been taking part in in Worcestershire’s second XI and had taken three wickets the day earlier than.
The match in Cantebury was Worcestershire’s first sport again since Baker’s dying final week
Worcestershire received the toss and elected to bat first, Gareth Roderick (centre) opening the batting
Baker was discovered useless by a pal in his house on Thursday, Could 2 after he didn’t flip up for the sport
Worcestershire’s gamers pays tribute to Baker (pictured) for the rest of the season by sporting the No 33 on their shirts
Baker had taken three wickets the day earlier than he had handed away, notably dismissing England’s Jack Leach
The membership’s head coach Alan Richardson revealed this week that his workforce are nonetheless attempting to course of the passing of their team-mate
The sport was subsequently deserted and dominated as a draw, with Worcestershire chief government Ashley Giles mentioned the information of the 20-year-old’s dying ‘left us all devastated.’
Former England captain Michael Vaughan led the tributes on social media, writing: ‘That is so unhappy… Ideas [are] with all his household and shut buddies.’
On Friday, Worcestershire coach Alan Richardson revealed his gamers have been nonetheless ‘attempting to course of’ the tragic passing of their team-mate.
‘Guys are nonetheless attempting to course of it,’ he informed The Guardian. ‘Numerous them have by no means skilled grief earlier than. There may be nonetheless shock and a whole lot of unhappiness that can maintain coming to the floor as we hit totally different milestones alongside the best way.
‘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.’
Baker, who had beforehand represented England U19, made his first-class cricket debut in 2021.
He had made 22 first-class appearances for Worchestershire, taking 43 wickets. He performed in 17 Listing A video games and eight T20s.
‘He was a very particular individual,’ Richardson continued. ‘Proficient, aggressive, cussed and really, very humorous. Half an hour sitting with Josh on the balcony at New Street was all the time entertaining.
Tributes have additionally been paid on the different 5 County Championship video games happening immediately
Surrey wrote on X (previously Twitter): ‘A minute’s silence was impeccably noticed earlier than play in reminiscence of Josh Baker. Our ideas are with Josh’s household, buddies and all people at @WorcsCCC.’
Worcestershire acknowledged that the No 33 ‘could be a logo of braveness and inspiration for the remainder of the season’
‘The lads have been so appreciative of Paul and Lisa coming to our first session again. They’ve been large supporters of Josh and the membership.
‘And the response from the cricket group, each nationally and internationally, simply exhibits 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.
The Telegraph have additionally reported that grieving Worcestershire gamers have been pressured to take drug checks on their first day again in coaching after the passing of Baker.
Worcester’s gamers complied however have been reportedly mentioned to be distressed on the timing of the checks. The UK Anti-Doping company apologised, however membership officers had been left ‘indignant and dismayed’.
The Skilled Cricketer’s Affiliation has additionally expressed their shock, with chief government Rob Lynch telling The Telegraph: ‘It’s at finest insensitive and at worst incompetent.’
