Worcestershire to wear playing shirts embellished with ’33’ in memory of Josh Baker

Josh Baker. (Source -Getty Images)

Worcestershire County Cricket Club have taken a poignant call to wear Josh Baker’s jersey number ’33’ imprinted under the club’s crest for the remainder of their County Championship Division One season in the loving memory of the admired and adroit left-arm spinner, who tragically passed away on May 2, 2024, at the tender age of 20. This comes after consultation with Baker’s family.

A beloved figure in the Worcestershire dressing room, Baker inked his initial contract with the county at the age of 17 back in 2022. Baker had made 22 First-Class appearances and 25 limited-over appearances (List A and T20s), scalping 43 and 27 wickets, respectively. He had also featured for England at the Under-19 level.

Baker played two out of the four matches for Worcestershire in the ongoing edition of the County Championship Division One, bowling a total of 69 overs, conceding 222 runs, and picking up four wickets, going at 3.21 runs/over. The day before his passing, he had ended up with figures of 20-2-66-3 on Day 3 of the Second Eleven Championship match, playing for Worcestershire 2nd XI against Somerset 2nd XI at the Bromsgrove School Ground. The final day of the match saw an early cessation. During the latest round of the County Championship which began on May 3, players wore black armbands to honor the occasion.

Former English left-arm orthodox and the CEO of Worcestershire, Ashley Giles, very frankly admitted in an official statement released on May 9, 2024, the acutely optimistic impact of anyone who had the honour of knowing him on a personal basis. He also remarked that Lisa Baker and Paul Baker, the youngster’s mother and father, have requested him and the club to provide an earnest appreciation to everyone for the multitude of admiration and consolation they received after their son’s passing.

“It is clear from the outpouring of love we’ve seen, following last week’s awful news, that Josh touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Josh’s mum and dad, Lisa and Paul, have asked us to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of love and support that they have received since Josh’s passing,” added Giles, in an official statement by the club.