Josh Baker: Worcestershire spinner signs new three-year deal at New Road
- Published
Josh Baker has taken 35 wickets in 15 County Championship games for Worcestershire and 10 in limited-overs matches
Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker has signed a new three-year contract.
Teenager Baker, who made his debut in 2021, still had a year left on his existing contract.
But the 19-year-old slow left-armer is now tied to the Pears until the end of the 2025 season.
"Josh has done very well," said Pears cricket steering group chair Paul Pridgeon. "It's not been a bed of roses for him. He's had to work very hard, and he's had the odd baptism of fire."
Pridgeon added: , external"He had the challenge of facing Ben Stokes at New Road last summer, but bounced back from it, and he has got a real strength of character.
"He's come through it all very well and proved he has got the makings of being a real high-quality left-arm spinner - and he can bat a bit as well.
"He came in the side and stayed in, which doesn't always happen with a youngster."
Baker has now recovered from a stress reaction to his lower back that forced him to miss the last two months of the 2022 season and is fully fit for the new campaign, which starts on 6 April for Worcestershire with a County Championship away game against Derbyshire.
"Having that security to kick on with my career is very encouraging," said Baker. "I can't wait to get going now. A lot of cricket is coming up.
"With the way cricket is going, with 'Bazball' and stuff like that, I feel like it will be a challenging time to bowl spin.
"But it's a challenge I'm relishing. If people come hard at you, there is more opportunity to take wickets."