Torbay cricketer Sonny shining on the international stage

The success story of Sonny Baker is only just beginning and Torbay could be watching the start of a cricket career to rival the best in the business.

Born in Torbay Hospital and a student at Oldway Primary School, Sonny soared through the junior ranks at Torquay Cricket Club and continued to progress during his time at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School.

A seriously rapid fast bowler, Sonny soon became established as a rising star on the Devon scene with an ultra-competitive streak harnessed by Torbay cricketing legends.

“One of the first people to encourage me to take up cricket was Mr Firrell, and then Mr Harman, who also coaches at Paignton CC. They ran the cricket programme and got me in the team nice and early,” he said.

“I joined TBGS and met up with Ben ‘Pasty’ Passenger, who was a teacher and also involved with Torquay Cricket Club. Pasty was a huge influence on my cricket career and, even recently, he helped me with some indoor training at TBGS before I went out to Australia, making sure I wasn’t short of bowling.

“In terms of other sports, I picked up my coordination pretty late compared to others. I did some karate as a youngster and then joined Torquay Cricket Club. I got selected by Devon U14s and U15s, which is when I realised cricket could be a future path.

“A quirk of cricket is that kids can compete in the adult game and it was at Torquay that I took my first senior steps. Rob Jack, another to have a big impact on me, was the third-team skipper and he was firm on me having the chance to open the bowling and gain confidence.

“We had lots of players at Torquay and Rob was the person to keep picking me and letting me play because, often as a kid, you end up standing at fine leg, batting at nine and not really being involved in the game.

“Matt McCann also was fantastic for me, he used to coach me rugby as well and always encouraging me. I used to get quite technical and over-think things, so some of the best feedback I ever received was Matt walking to mid-off and saying ‘just get him out’. “

Pace and potential is one thing in cricket, but Sonny also had that untrainable asset of a massive desire to win, even as a youngster competing against adults.

That side of his persona came to the fore in one particular fixture at the famously beautiful surrounds of Cockington CC, a place better known for tranquil cricket and relaxing walks, rather than a breeding ground for express international talent.

“As a kid, I preferred playing against the adults who would get a bit grumpy if I took their wicket,” said Sonny. “You’d get some who would be very complimentary after you got them out, almost as if they let it happen because I was young – I wanted opponents who took it fully seriously.

“I specifically remember a game at the Cockington Bowl when I was around 13 or 14. I had beaten the outside edge of a guy and gave him a proper stare-down. We ended up losing the game, but I could hear people laughing that a kid was taking the game so seriously.

“I was always very competitive and that probably helped.”

The next step on Baker’s journey was a bold one, as he moved away from home to take up a sporting scholarship in Somerset.

While there were bumps in the road over the next few years, one chance encounter propelled Sonny into the professional ranks, that moment of good fortune all sport stars need to make their mark.

“The move to Taunton was a last-minute decision,” he said. “I was approaching Year 10 at the Grammar when I went to Kings School in Taunton and there was a chance for a cricket scholarship.

“Within three days, the decision was made and I was going to Taunton as a boarder. It was obviously tough to be away from home all through the week, and some weekends, but I had a great time at Kings and made some of my best friends there. Taunton is a cricket town and I loved that.

“I was originally in a group of players who weren’t quite good enough for the Somerset Academy and stayed in that system for two years. I also had a stress fracture on my back at the age of 16, which didn’t help.

“I fell into a gap between Devon and Somerset, and it was only when someone got injured in an England U19s trial that I was asked to play for the North in a North v South game because they were short of a seamer.

“My dad got me up to Loughborough for the game and I opened the bowling for the North, despite being the most Southern player on the pitch, and was signed for the Somerset Academy from that day.

“Nine months later, I signed a professional deal with Somerset, I played in the Royal London competition and earned a place as one of the replacements for Trent Rockets in The Hundred.

“It was all very rapid, similar to how the last few months have been, a sudden ascension to earn an England Development contract, but it’s the work you put in beforehand that really sticks in your mind.”

From the comparatively humble surrounds of Torquay CC, Sonny started 2025 with a place on the England Lions tour to Australia.

Now signed for Hampshire, his fast bowling during a unique competition in the Caribbean had captured the attention of selectors and Sonny impressed again on the bouncy pitches Down Under.

While his immediate focus is on a positive summer in the County scene, his place amongst the England potentials for the future naturally means Sonny has one dreamy eye on the Holy Grail of an Ashes Tour at the end of this year.

“I was playing for Hampshire in Guyana, in a competition called the Global Super League, which was the first time a league had been created with five different countries that had team involvement,” he said.

“The league comprised Guyana, Lahore from Pakistan, Rangpur from Bangladesh, Victoria from Australia and Hampshire from England, so I was very lucky to get that opportunity to play in a competition that was televised.

“One of the coaches for Lahore was Darren Gough, so I got the chance to speak with him, which was amazing. I was able to bowl fast on TV and, in most games, I didn’t drop below an average of around 87mph. The fastest I bowled was just over 92mph, which was a massive selling point for my game.

“That got me on the tour to Australia and I think they liked what they saw. I try to be as diligent and thorough as I can with my preparation and how I build toward games. I think the coaching staff enjoyed that and thought it was worth an investment.

“There are two types of deals with the ECB, a Central Contract, which is for the established players like Joe Root and Harry Brook, the guys playing all the time at international level. The England Development contract is for guys with whom the ECB want to monitor their workload.

“It means the ECB will be collaborating with Hampshire on when they want me to play based on what they have coming up. It just allows the ECB to have a bit more influence because they also pay a portion of my salary.

“The Ashes is a dream for every cricketer, and I’m no different, it would be just amazing at the age of 22.

“I try not to look too far into the future but I am a very ambitious person. First of all, the focus is on making a Championship debut, getting through a block of games and then hopefully be involved in the T20 Blast and The Hundred.

“We will see where we are after that but if I can complete those aims, I will be really happy.”

Wherever the Sonny Baker story ends up next, you can be sure it will be rapid, and the cricket people of Torbay can take great pride in their influence on a blossoming international career.