Sonny Baker Embraces Injury Risk in Quest for Raw Bowling Speed
The 23-year-old Hampshire fast bowler, Sonny Baker, has declared his readiness to accept the physical toll of his profession as he relentlessly pursues greater velocity. Baker, who has already overcome three stress fractures in his lower back during his fledgling career, views injuries as an inevitable trade-off for achieving express pace.
Prioritising Pace Over Physical Preservation
Baker recently clocked a personal best of 91.5 miles per hour during pre-season training. His performance was further highlighted by a remarkable triple-wicket maiden during Hampshire's County Championship victory over Yorkshire last weekend, a display that certainly caught the attention of England's selectors. For Baker, the allure of raw speed is paramount.
"People come out of the bar to watch Mark Wood and Jofra Archer," Baker told the Press Association. "Batters smacking it and bowlers bowling fast is the lifeblood of the game, it's exciting to watch."
He argues that even a delivery like a 90mph cut ball remains significantly harder for batsmen to play, simply due to the increased pace. "It's a big asset of mine and something I want to keep exploring," Baker stated. "Injuries are very much part and parcel of that and that's OK. It's a trade-off I'm willing to make."
Seeking Wisdom from England's Speedsters
A dedicated student of his craft, Baker maintains a notebook filled with insights gleaned from fellow pace bowlers. Over the winter, he actively sought advice from Mark Wood, one of the game's fastest operators, on how to increase speed while managing the associated risks.
"He almost answered what I was expecting him to answer," Baker recalled. "That was a 'oh, I do know what I'm talking about'. One thing he said was 'there's no magic bullet, I can't give you some exercise that's going to make you bowl 90mph-plus and stay injury-free all the time, it's staying on top of everything at once'."
Baker also received valuable perspective from Jofra Archer following a challenging international debut last September, where he posted expensive figures in ODI and T20 matches shortly after excelling for the Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
"Jof was good from a perspective point of view in that he just said 'one in 10 games is going to go like that, that's just the way it is'," Baker explained. "It was a well-timed message. Just because I had one off-day and it happened to be my debut, it doesn't mean that I'm behind the pace."
Eyes on the Ashes Amidst Immediate Challenges
Currently on a one-year England central contract, Baker has played only nine first-class matches but is already being touted for a potential Test call-up. With at least one fast bowling spot seemingly available and Brydon Carse's recent hand injury potentially creating another opportunity, Baker's ambitions are clear.
While his long-term goal is securing a place for the 2027 Ashes series, his immediate focus remains on contributing to Hampshire, who face Somerset this week at the Utilita Bowl.
"Ashes cricket is absolutely the pinnacle and that's where every English player wants to be," he affirmed. "I'm very, very hungry to try and do everything I can to try and earn that. Right now I just want to play and get some games in. I want to try to learn some things and body being well, getting some good robustness under my belt."
Reflecting on a whirlwind period that included his international debut and Hundred success, Baker likened the experience to being served multiple feasts at once. "Last summer was almost like having three massive steaks served up to me at once," he said. "You think 'how good is this?' but you don't have time to enjoy all of them because you've got them all in one go."
