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Fundraising weekend in memory of young cricketer

Tammy Gooding,BBC Hereford and Worcesterand
Eleanor Lawson,West Midlands
Getty Images A young man with dark hair and a black top with a Rapids logo on it Getty Images
Josh Baker died suddenly in 2024, aged 20

A fundraising weekend has kicked off in memory of 20-year-old cricketer Josh Baker, who died suddenly in 2024.

For the second year running, Blue for Bakes is being hosted at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, starting at New Road as the Men's Rapids take on Middlesex.

The weekend will culminate at Astwood Bank Cricket Club on Sunday as the Women's Rapids take on Kent at the Josh Baker Oval.

"It's humbling," Josh's father, Paul Baker, told BBC Hereford and Worcester, adding: "It seems to be bigger and better than last year so we're nervously looking forward to the weekend."

Visitors are encouraged to wear blue in tribute to Josh.

All money raised will go to the JB33 Foundation, which aims to provide cricketing opportunities for those with financial barriers to the sport.

The foundation's name takes Josh Baker's initials and also the number he wore on his shirt.

A man and woman wearing blue t-shirts smile at the camera with their arms around each other
Josh Baker's parents, Lisa and Paul, aim to "provide cricketing opportunities where finance is a barrier"

Sam Rhymes, the media manager at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, said the weekend would be filled with family-friendly events, as well as a live mural which would be a permanent tribute to Josh.

"Wherever you look, wherever you turn, there's people that have been involved in his journey," Rhymes said.

"We're trying to do everything we can to remember Josh as a person and a cricketer."

Speaking about the JB33 Foundation, Paul said: "The aim of the foundation is to provide cricketing opportunities where finance is a barrier for that.

"We've been supporting coaching, getting coaches coached, where families struggle to get to games, for summer cricket camps.

"Anything cricket related, we want to support, because that's what Josh's love was and that's what our love is too."

A woman uses a pen to draw on a mural, which is mostly sketched out in black and white, but some of the background has been painted blue. A man in a blue t-shirt stands next to her.
The mural will go on permanent display at the Josh Baker Oval from Sunday

When asked what his son would think of the event, Paul said: "I think he'd be a little bit embarrassed by it all to be honest, because he was very modest, he'd be astonished I think.

"I'd love to know what he'd think of this, unfortunately we'll never know that.

"I think he'd be proud and to see the number 33 here and all his ex playing colleagues and coaches still remembering him is wonderful really."

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