England’s Sonny Baker registers unwanted record on ODI debut

Speedster with a right arm Sonny Baker made history by becoming the first bowler from England to give up runs at a pace of more than 10 runs per hour on his ODI debut. In the opening ODI of England’s three-match series against South Africa, Baker gave up 76 of the 137 runs that England gave up.

After a series of outstanding performances for Manchester Originals in The Hundred Men’s 2025, Baker received his first call-up to the national team. He took nine wickets in seven games while giving up just 146 runs in 116 balls. However, the visiting hitters mercilessly punished him, making his debut one to remember.

For an English bowler making their ODI debut (minimum seven overs), the highest economy rate is:

Before Sonny Baker was given the task of bowling the opening over of the run-chase, England had been bowled out for 131 in 24.3 overs. In his first over, Aiden Markram hit three boundaries. The Proteas rushed to 49 at the end of five overs, with Baker letting up 44 of them, as he opened his second over with a pair of wides before being hammered for a four and a couple of sixes.

Sonny Baker had already given up 56 runs after hitting three boundaries in his fourth over.

Sonny Baker gave up just two runs, including a wide, in his fifth over, which was the cleanest of his seven. By the end of Sonny Baker seventh over, the opposition had already reached the 100-run milestone, and English hopes had already faded.

With 86 off 55, which included 13 fours and two sixes, Markram finished as the top scorer. All three of the falling wickets were taken by Adil Rashid (3/26 in 3.5 overs). In the first innings, Jamie Smith (54 off 48) was outstanding. No other batter on the Harry Brook-led squad scored more than 20 runs. The home team’s seven batters scored in the single digits.