Sonny Baker desperate to make amends for England’s T20 decider with Ireland

The summer was going Sonny Baker’s way. The 22-year-old quick had made his County Championship debut, taken a couple of five-fers for Hampshire, bowled with venom in the Hundred and merited a call-up to England’s one-day international squad for South Africa’s visit. It was the next logical step. And then, as he says himself, “shit happens”.

Aiden Markram arrived with the takedown, the opener launching into the debutant at Headingley in the series opener. Baker returned figures of 0-76 from seven overs as South Africa hunted down 132 with 175 balls to spare. Some perspective was offered by his teammates.

“All of the guys after were like: ‘Mate, defending 130, come on: unless we got five [wickets] in the powerplay, we were never really in it.’” said Baker. “[Running] up the hill at Headingley can be tough sometimes. Markram fancied a piece and got a few away, and he’s a very, very good player.

“Obviously we had to have really aggressive fields, and then anytime the ball beats anyone inside the ring in the off-side, it’s four. From a figures point of view, it was not exactly how I’d planned my debut going, but not all good experiences are enjoyable experiences. At the time, I was thinking: ‘Fifteen an over for my first three or four overs is not what I had in mind!’ But in the long run, it’ll be a good thing.”

Baker is an upbeat character and likes to keep notes on his bowling plans, listing down ground dimensions, different grips, analysis on batters. “I try to be objective when I’m doing reviews and I don’t mind being detail-orientated,” he said. “[Harry Brook] was actually chatting to me after that and just said: ‘What did you write down in your notebook after that game?’ I just said: ‘Shit happens.’

Jofra Archer gives the benefit of his experience to Sonny Baker, who conceded 76 runs off seven overs against South Africa at Headingley. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

“It’s one of those sometimes. It was not the best I’ve bowled, but there’s days where I’ve bowled a lot worse than that and got four for not very many.

“[Jofra Archer] came over from cover to mid-off and he was like: ‘How’s your heart rate, bud?’ And I was like: ‘It’s actually fine.’ From an emotional management point of view, I actually felt OK at the time, all things considered. There was so much going on that I didn’t really have time to register: ‘Oh no, this is really not going how I wanted it to’. It was like, well, I’ve just got to get on with it and deal with it.”

Baker has since appeared at Blast Finals Day, where Hampshire lost to his former club, Somerset, and would have made his England T20 bow against Ireland on Friday had rain not forced an abandonment.

He is “desperate” to get out there and play on Sunday, the final contest in the three-match series which England lead. “Mainly excitement,” he says when asked how he feels, hopeful of a more enjoyable debut this time round.