Sonny Baker calls PCA young player award ‘awesome’ as England winter beckons

Baker targets continued progress after PCA honour

England and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker has described winning the Professional Cricketers’ Association young player of the year award as “awesome”, while stressing that his priority is to keep developing his game.

The 23-year-old became the first Hampshire player to receive the award. “It always means more when it’s coming from guys who you respect and play against,” Baker told BBC Sport. He said being voted for by fellow players was a “massive honour” and noted that previous winners had gone on to have “phenomenal careers”.

Busy England schedule ahead

Baker’s 2026 season included winning The Hundred with Manchester Super Giants, helping Hampshire reach T20 Blast Finals Day and making his Test debut against New Zealand. He also played for England’s white-ball sides against Sri Lanka last month, taking career-best figures of 3-12 in the first T20 match.

He was included in England’s squad for the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan. England also have white-ball matches against Australia and a Test series against South Africa scheduled for the winter.

While Baker hopes to play a significant part, he said he is trying not to look too far ahead. “For me the main thing is just trying to work on each section of the winter and then the year ahead,” he said, adding that building on those periods would help him “continually improve”.