Sonny makes the grade after A-level success

SOMERSET County Cricket Club are excited to be able to announce that Sonny Baker has signed his first professional contract.

The 18-year-old (right), who hails from Torquay CC where he plays his club cricket, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal that will see him ply his trade for the county until at least the end of the 2023 season.

Sonny, who grew up playing through the Devon youth system, and first played for Somerset Second XI in 2019, has been a key element of the Somerset squad in this year’s Royal London Cup.

He joined the Somerset Academy last autumn and featured in the England Development Under 19 Programme North v South Matches. He is also another player alongside the extended list of those currently on the Somerset playing staff who have represented and played National Counties cricket for Devon NCCA.

After signing his contract, Sonny said: “Signing for Somerset is incredible. It’s the sort of thing that you dream about. It’s something I’ve worked really hard for, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“Everything’s happened really fast. Just over a year ago I wasn’t even on the Academy. Now I’ve had a taste of first team cricket and I want more.”

It’s been quite a week for Sonny who also excelled in his A-levels, as he explained. “obviously, we had a game on Tuesday, so I didn’t look at my results until the evening. I wanted to concentrate on the game, and my results were going to be the same at 6 o’clock as they would be at 8.30 in the morning. I’m really pleased with my results which were two As and a B.”

Somerset CCC director of cricket Andy Hurry is delighted to have secured the services of the young paceman. “It’s been really exciting to observe the development and performances of Sonny through the Academy programme,”