Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have singled out Hampshire bowler Sonny Baker as a late contender to be included in England’s Ashes squad to face Australia this winter.
The 22-year-old fast raised his profile with a formidable opening spell for Manchester Originals in The Hundred on Monday as he troubled London Spirit’s high-pedigree opening pairing of David Warner and Kane Williamson.
Baker was given a improvement central contract by England in February after impressing in his first-class debut on an England Lions tour of Australia firstly of the 12 months.
Having moved to Hampshire from Somerset forward of the 2025 County Championship season, Baker has taken 19 wickets at a median of 36.1 in six championship appearances.
Talking on the most recent episode of the Sky Sports activities Cricket Podcast, former England captain Atherton mentioned: “We each favored watching Sonny Baker the opposite evening at Outdated Trafford.
“He gave David Warner the hurry up. That in itself is an effective signal.
“He’s quite lively and skiddy and sharp, and I know they were very impressed with him in the Lions who went down to Australia last year, so he could be a bit of a bolter for the winter.”
Former England skipper Hussain was equally impressed by Baker, however questioned whether or not he’s bodily ready for the rigours of Check cricket.
Hussain mentioned: “Anyone that’s got David Warner jumping around, when David Warner has that smirky smile at the end of the five, it’s not because he likes you. It was a ‘crikey, that was pretty good, to be honest,’ smirk and smile, (that Warner) gave Sonny Baker.
“It was hostile stuff. The pace gun could say 86, 87 miles per hour, however generally bowlers simply really feel a bit faster. And he does appear to really feel a bit faster.
“My only issue is I’ve not seen him enough in long-form cricket to know what will his third, fourth spell be like, how does he come back the next day? But as you say, the reports from the Lions were that he was he was excellent.”
What ought to Bethell do subsequent?
Atherton and Hussain additionally mentioned the “difficult” scenario dealing with England batter Jacob Bethell as he seeks to rediscover his type after a difficult spell.
The 21-year-old spent the summer time as the primary back-up batter for England’s Check facet, with a call taken to maintain him with the squad all through the sequence towards India fairly than releasing him to play county cricket.
Atherton and Hussain questioned whether or not Bethell ought to prioritise taking part in county cricket on the finish of the English summer time to arrange for the Ashes, fairly than taking part in white-ball matches for England’s restricted overs sides.
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Check out one of the best pictures from Jacob Bethell’s sensible 82 towards the West Indies
Atherton mentioned: “If you look forward, if he’s going to be the spare batter in the Ashes, what do England do now?
“You would make an argument that maybe taking part in some 50-over cricket on this interval may be higher, however clearly you’d need to play The Hundred since you’re getting paid and there is massive crowds and that is the place it’s.
“But then after that, should he play championship or should he play white-ball cricket? Because we’ve got some white ball internationals at the end of the season.”
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Sam Cook dinner ran out Jacob Bethell with ‘unbelievable’ fielding in Trent Rockets match towards Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred
Hussain added: “If I was him, I would probably be looking to play County Championship cricket for Warwickshire at the end of the season, just to get in the rhythm.
“And I do know there is a T20 World Cup arising and the white ball stuff is massively essential. However he appears to have misplaced the rhythm of batting.
“He hasn’t got a professional hundred yet. Go and get a professional hundred. I think Warwickshire play Surrey as well. That will be a real good opportunity against a good bowling attack.
“In order that’s my private pondering. Rob Key, selectors, they usually get criticised for not focusing in on white ball stuff. They might say, ‘proper, we have got a World Cup, it’s essential play extra white ball stuff.’ Will probably be fascinating to see.”
Watch each match from The Hundred throughout the ladies’s and males’s competitions reside on Sky Sports activities from August 5-31.
