Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker has caught the attention of former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, who believe that the 22-year-old could earn a place in England’s Ashes squad this winter.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Atherton said: “We both liked watching Sonny Baker the other night at Old Trafford. He gave David Warner the hurry-up. That in itself is a good sign.”
Baker’s pace and accuracy stood out during the Hundred clash between Manchester Originals and London Spirit, where he troubled star batters David Warner and Kane Williamson. The right-arm quick, who joined Hampshire ahead of the 2025 County Championship, has taken 22 wickets in seven first-class games, including two five-wicket hauls. Earlier this year, he was also awarded a development central contract after impressing for England Lions on tour in Australia.
Although Nasser is impressed with Baker, he has doubts about whether the uncapped pacer is ready to meet the demands of Test cricket.
“Anyone who’s got David Warner jumping around — when David Warner has that smirky smile at the end of the over, it’s not because he likes you. It was a ‘crikey, that was pretty good, to be honest’ smirk and smile that he gave Sonny Baker,” he said.
“It was hostile stuff. The speed gun may say 86 or 87 miles per hour, but sometimes bowlers just feel a bit quicker — and he does seem to feel a bit quicker. My only issue is I’ve not seen him enough in long-form cricket to know what his third or fourth spell would be like, or how he comes back the next day. But as you say, the reports from the Lions were that he was excellent.”
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