Bone Broth and Notebooks: England Latest Bowling Recruit Sonny Baker

Every so often, English cricket throws up a story that makes you smile, not because it’s polished or predictable, but because it feels refreshingly human. Enter Sonny Baker, the 22-year-old Devon-born fast bowler who talks as quickly as he bowls, scribbles his thoughts into notebooks like a student cramming for finals, and swears by a diet that includes bone broth as a daily staple.

This week, Baker took the call that every county cricketer dreams of. England head coach Brendon McCullum, known for his bold instincts and straight-talking manner, dialed up Baker’s phone to tell him he was in the squad. The problem? Baker, usually never short of words, was suddenly struck dumb.

“I said to him, ‘I promise I’m normally more talkative than this. I’m just a bit lost for words,’” Baker laughs. “And Baz just came back with, ‘Yeah, I’ve heard…’”

It was a rare moment of silence for a bowler who usually can’t resist asking questions, whether it’s James Anderson, Wahab Riaz, or even Australian speed legends Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. But that is exactly what makes him such a fascinating new face in English cricket.

Bone Broth, Injuries, and the Making of a Fast Bowler

Baker is open about the physical setbacks that shaped his career. By the time he was 17, he had already suffered a back stress fracture — the bane of many young fast bowlers. More injuries followed in 2022 and 2023, threatening to derail his ambitions altogether. At one point, teaching biology seemed like the safer route, and Baker even considered applying to Oxford.

Instead, he found his own way of fighting back. Part of that meant diving deep into the science of fast bowling, not just action and tactics, but also recovery and longevity. That’s where the bone broth comes in.

“You basically put bones in boiling water, the same as a slow cooker, and it just dissolves the minerals out of the bone,” he explains matter-of-factly. “You get collagen in there as well. If you chuck root veg or whatever in there, a bit of black pepper, it tastes quite nice. I think it has made a big difference.”

It may sound quirky, but Baker swears by it. For the past two years, he’s been injury-free, bowling quicker than ever, and finally able to show what he can do.

Notebooks, Analysis, and an Obsession With Bowling

What really sets Baker apart, though, is his notebooks. He keeps detailed records of opposition batters, plans for specific matches, and even reflections on his own bowling days. It’s a habit born from his academic streak and sharpened during his injury layoffs.

“I’ve just found it keeps me involved in the analysis stuff and then really remember it,” he says. “It would be an absolute nightmare if you’re not really sure whether you’re meant to bowl wide or straight and then you pick the wrong one. You can’t really justify that to yourself at the end of the game.”

The notebook now contains pages on some of the world’s greats, including Steve Smith. When Manchester Originals faced Welsh Fire in The Hundred, Baker bowled 12 balls to Smith. Six were dealt with in classic Smith fashion – three clipped away for four – but the other six produced false shots. For Baker, just writing down the name “Steve Smith” in his book was surreal.

“It’s been surreal, writing notes on Steve Smith thinking, ‘Am I actually going to be opening the bowling at him?’” he grins.

The Hundred, the Lions, and the Road to England

‘What a breakthrough season!’ – In-form Baker dismisses Bairstow for third-ball duck

If English selectors had any doubts about Baker, The Hundred may have changed their minds. Bowling for Manchester Originals, he lit up the tournament with raw pace and fearless spells. At one point, he rattled David Warner with five consecutive dot balls. Even more impressive, no bowler – not even Jofra Archer – delivered more balls above 87mph.

“It’s what I find fun about the game,” Baker says, shrugging off the risks that come with fast bowling. “The injuries I’ve had have almost given me clarity on that. Some days you’re going to go for runs. It would be so much easier if I bowled 70mph nibblers, but then you’d never get those days where the ball’s reversing and everyone’s shouting, ‘Give this kid the ball!’ That’s the trade-off, and I’m at peace with it.”

After a strong England Lions tour of Australia last winter, Baker earned a development contract in February – even before playing a County Championship game. His Division One debut for Hampshire came in April, followed by a maiden five-wicket haul a week later. Step by step, the upward curve has been steep and relentless.

Questions, Mentors, and the James Anderson Factor

Baker admits he’s always been “that guy” in the dressing room – the one who fires off endless questions. During The Hundred in 2022, he cornered Wahab Riaz for advice. He’s phoned Brett Lee and Shaun Tait for tips. And when he recently shared a Manchester Originals dressing room with James Anderson, he had to hold himself back.

“I know I ask a lot of questions, so I’ve been trying to ease him into that and not just spray him straight away,” Baker says with a smile.

Still, you sense Anderson, like the rest, will soon be answering them anyway. Because Baker is impossible to ignore – part scientist, part fast-bowling romantic, endlessly curious and deeply passionate about his craft.

Looking Ahead: From Notebooks to Test Dreams

The beauty of Baker’s story is that he doesn’t hide the big dream. He knows there’s a Lions tour shadowing the Ashes, and yes, he knows stranger things have happened than a raw, quick bowler being thrown into the cauldron of a Test debut down under.

“I mean, that would be good fun, wouldn’t it?” he says, grinning. “I’ll refer back to notes on any matters, and Steve Smith is one of the red-ball GOATs, so I’d definitely be coming back to that analysis if I end up needing it. But let’s just worry about the next few games first.”

For now, his eyes remain on The Hundred and England’s upcoming white-ball series against South Africa and Ireland. But beyond that, the notebooks and the bone broth tell their own story: here is a bowler who thinks, learns, and dreams like few others.

England’s newest recruit might be a little unconventional. He might even be a little nerdy. But as long as he keeps bowling fast, asking questions, and scribbling down notes, Sonny Baker is going to be hard to ignore.