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When England clinched an Ashes victory against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Paul Baker found himself overwhelmed with emotion, shedding a tear. The victory held profound significance for Paul and his wife Lisa, who last witnessed England triumph in Melbourne 15 years prior. Back then, they were accompanied by their seven-year-old son Josh—a cricket enthusiast whose future seemed full of promise.
Josh, a left-arm spinner, went on to represent Worcestershire in 47 matches. Tragically, in May 2024, at just 20 years old, he passed away due to an undiagnosed heart condition. This year, without Josh’s presence, Lisa and Paul returned to Australia to support England alongside the players who had once been Josh’s teammates, Josh Tongue and Jacob Bethell. Reflecting on the victory, Paul shared with BBC Sport, “It was a moment of reflection. It was lovely to see England win at the MCG. I’ve got fond memories of sharing the moment with Josh in 2010.”
The Bakers have long cherished their Ashes journeys. Their connection to cricket began early, with their first trip to Australia for the 2002-03 series occurring while Lisa was pregnant with Josh. Paul, a former second XI captain at Redditch Cricket Club, passed his love of the sport on to his family. Although Lisa initially knew little about cricket, she quickly became immersed in it. Cricket was an integral part of Josh’s life, including moments like attending the Melbourne and Sydney Tests during England’s successful 2010-11 tour. Paul fondly recalled Josh’s enthusiasm for the Barmy Army’s singing and chanting, saying, “His eyes were on stalks, capturing everything that was going on. We took him to the Barmy Army pub one night and he loved it.”
Despite the pain of Josh’s absence, Lisa and Paul have remained connected to Australia throughout the current Ashes series. While England suffered some disappointments on the field, the couple embraced their surroundings—Lisa even experienced a skydive. Watching cricket now brings a bittersweet mix of comfort and sorrow. Paul explained, “All of the England games are comforting, because I wouldn’t expect to see Josh there.” Yet, the matches where Josh once played, such as Worcestershire’s fixtures and club games, are harder to bear because his presence is missed deeply.
Josh had played age-group cricket alongside Jacob Bethell, who marked his Ashes debut in Melbourne by contributing an important 40 runs during England’s second innings. On a break in Noosa, Lisa and Paul met Bethell in a bar, and he chose to spend time with them away from his teammates. Lisa described the encounter: “He seemed in a good place. It was lovely to see him go out there and bat so well in the second innings.” Meanwhile, Paul’s ties to pace bowler Josh Tongue extended further back, having once been teammates with Tongue’s father at Redditch. Years later, the two Joshes became Worcestershire teammates, with Tongue’s first-innings 5-45 earning player of the match honors in Melbourne. Paul reflected, “I remember seeing Josh as a four-year-old bowling on the square at Redditch, chasing balls around. It was very, very special. And we’re really proud of him.”
On the morning Josh passed away, he was slated to play in a Worcestershire second XI game against Somerset. Since his loss, the family has found solace and solidarity in their relationship with the county club. Paul remarked, “We feel we have to be there for them. As much as we are struggling, those guys need our support.” Lisa added, “And we need them.” This close bond was further reinforced when Worcestershire triumphed in the dramatic One-Day Cup final against Hampshire at Trent Bridge, a victory sealed by a four from Henry Cullen—Josh’s best friend. Lisa recalled the joyful moment: “We were just walking out of the ground and [bowler] Adam Finch came to grab us. He said ‘Where are you going?’ … ‘No you’re not, this is your day as much as ours – you’re coming up to the changing rooms.’ We went up there and had a glass of champagne. It was just lovely. They didn’t need to do that, but they want to include us in everything.”
In tribute to Josh, Worcestershire played the One-Day Cup final bearing the logo of the JB33 Foundation, a charity Lisa and Paul established in his memory. Paul emphasized their motivation: “We want people to know of him and know about him.” The foundation has raised £65,000 through events such as balls at Worcestershire’s New Road and golf days. However, Lisa and Paul have encountered unexpected challenges when it comes to allocating those funds effectively. Paul explained their dilemma: “I thought it would be the other way around. Raising money is never easy, but how do we change people’s lives, how do we make things better for people and have success stories to tell on the back of it?”
Their goal is to give back to the cricket community that meant so much to their family. This includes supporting juniors in accessing matches or helping families facing financial barriers, as well as potentially addressing medical aspects of the sport. The couple has invited anyone with guidance to contact the JB33 Foundation via its Instagram page. Lisa expressed the passion driving their efforts: “It’s something we’re very passionate about, because it means so much to us. We need to start spending and shouting about what we’re doing.”
While still in Australia, Lisa and Paul continue to manage calls and meetings related to the foundation, intent on advancing their work upon returning home before the new season starts. Their Ashes journey will conclude in Sydney, where they will wear their JB33 T-shirts on the opening day of the fifth Test, continuing a tradition upheld throughout the series. Lisa reflected on the complex emotions involved: “It hurts like hell because they have his face on the back, but it’s also beautiful.” For the Bakers, revisiting Sydney is especially poignant, stirring memories too painful for any parent to bear. Josh had bowled outside the Sydney Cricket Ground during the Ashes Test of 2011, and it was there that he spent a winter playing cricket just months before his passing.
Lisa shared insights into Josh’s character, noting that he wasn’t particularly drawn to Christmas and likely would have spent holidays playing cricket rather than at home. Music was another central part of his life, with certain songs triggering bittersweet reminders: “He loved his music. He was always singing.” For the Bakers, being in Australia during the holidays now carries a unique significance, bringing them closer to Josh than they feel they could be back home
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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