Harry Brook has expressed full support for young fast bowler Sonny Baker after a difficult first ODI against South Africa at Headingley, where England were crushed. Baker, 22, conceded 76 runs in seven overs without taking a wicket, recording the most expensive figures ever by an England bowler on debut. His economy rate of 10.85 was also the second-highest for a debutant bowling at least six overs.

Baker’s day started positively with the presentation of his England cap by Jos Buttler, but his debut quickly turned challenging. England were bowled out for just 131, leaving Baker to defend an almost impossible target.

“π‘¬π’—π’†π’“π’šπ’ƒπ’π’…π’š π’˜π’Šπ’π’ π’ˆπ’†π’• π’ƒπ’†π’‰π’Šπ’π’… π’‰π’Šπ’Ž. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 π’•π’‰π’Šπ’” π’ˆπ’“π’π’–π’‘. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 π’•π’Šπ’ˆπ’‰π’•-π’Œπ’π’Šπ’• π’ˆπ’“π’π’–π’‘,” π‘©π’“π’π’π’Œ π’”π’‚π’Šπ’….

“𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 π’•π’π’–π’ˆπ’‰ π’…π’‚π’š, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’˜π’‚π’š 𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 π’Œπ’†π’‘π’• 𝒐𝒏 π’„π’“π’‚π’„π’Œπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’…π’Šπ’ˆπ’ˆπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 π’˜π’‚π’” π’‚π’˜π’†π’”π’π’Žπ’† 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆.”

England Look Ahead While Supporting Young Talent

Brook admitted England had β€œno excuses” after their batting collapse but emphasized the team’s focus on development. Baker’s second spell showed slight improvement, conceding just two runs in his fifth over, though Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton continued to dominate, putting South Africa on course for an easy win.

“𝑰 π’˜π’‚π’” 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 π’•π’“π’šπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒐 π’ˆπ’†π’• π’‰π’Šπ’Ž 𝒂 π’˜π’Šπ’„π’Œπ’†π’•, 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕,” π‘©π’“π’π’π’Œ 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅. “𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 π’•π’‰π’†π’š π’ˆπ’π’•, 𝑰 π’Œπ’π’†π’˜ 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’˜π’† π’˜π’†π’“π’† 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 π’“π’†π’‚π’π’π’š π’ˆπ’π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒐 π’˜π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’ˆπ’‚π’Žπ’†. 𝑰𝒕 π’˜π’‚π’” 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 π’Žπ’‚π’•π’•π’†π’“ 𝒐𝒇 π’•π’“π’šπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑 π’”π’Œπ’Šπ’π’π’” 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Brook highlighted Baker’s potential and resilience, encouraging the team to continue supporting the debutant as they prepare for the second ODI at Lord’s.

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