Brook offers support to Baker after harrowing ODI debut that saw him get carted across the park in his 7 overs.
Brook backs butchered Baker after chastising ODI debut.
Prior to Thursday’s second ODI at Lord’s, Harry Brook has assured the England team that they will support Sonny Baker after the fast bowler had a disastrous debut in a lopsided series opener against South Africa at Headingley.
In his maiden ODI, 22-year-old Baker was dismissed for 76 runs in seven wicketless overs, the highest total ever given by an England bowler. His economy rate of 10.85 was the second-worst of any rookie who has bowled at least six overs in the format.
Before the toss, Baker’s day may have reached its zenith when his new teammate Jos Buttler, a fellow graduate of King’s College, Taunton, gave him his England cap in front of his family. Beginning with his own role in that scoreline—a first-ball duck thanks to Keshav Maharaj—he was in a precarious position after England was bowled out for 131 in 25 overs.
Baker’s poor day with the ball
The ball for the first over of South Africa’s chase was subsequently given to Baker. His spectacular performances for Manchester Originals in the Hundred had given him an air of form and confidence going into the match, but his combined statistics of 6 for 81 in his previous 67 balls were insufficient to prepare Aiden Markram in a major hurry. Markram raced to a 23-ball half-century after his sluggish speed was smashed for three fours in his opening five balls and 56 in his first four-over performance.
After South Africa’s 67-run powerplay, Brook acknowledged that England used the rest of the innings as a makeshift practice session and went back to Baker for a second spell in the 12th over, which was down the hill from the Kirkstall Lane End. He did better at first, giving up only two runs in his fifth over, but Markram and Ryan Rickelton kept hitting him after that, reaching 121 in 18 overs with their opening stand.
Brook supports Baker
“It’s not probably the ideal start, having to defend 130,” Brook admitted at the post-match presentations, adding that England had “no excuses” after a batting display that “wasn’t good enough”.
“Everybody will get behind him,” Brook added. “That’s the nature of this group. We are such a tight-knit group. We’re all good mates. We spend a lot of time away from the game together as well.
“He’s had a tough day, but the way that he just kept on cracking on and digging deep, to keep on running in and try and get wickets there for us, even after getting a little bit of tap, was awesome to see. And that’s exactly what we asked of every bowler.”