Follow UsA 22-year-old right-arm pacer, Sonny Baker, who plays domestic cricket for Hampshire and The Hundred for Manchester Originals, has been handed his ODI debut by the England.
Baker is set to feature in the first ODI against South Africa on Tuesday, September 2, having been named in the playing 11, which will be led by Harry Brook. He will be bowling along with Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, who are the other two pacers named in the 11.
Baker, who started playing cricket for Somerset, has been impressive for Hampshire, England Lions and Manchester Originals in The Hundred. Known for bowling at a rapid pace, he had a brilliant 2025 season for the Originals, where he picked nine wickets in just seven games at an average of 16.22.
Notably, The Hundred was where he made his T20 debut back in 2022, as he became the first man to make his professional T20 debut in the tournament.
Meanwhile, England’s playing 11 includes openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, with Joe Root at three, skipper Brook at four, Jos Buttler at five, Jacob Bethell at six and Will Jacks at seven. Adil Rashid is going to play as the lone specialist spinner, with Bethell and Jacks also chipping in.
England’s Playing XI For First ODI vs South Africa: Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c ), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Bryson Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker