'We want to keep Josh's memory alive'

A team of cricketers are running a marathon this weekend to raise money in memory of their friend and colleague who died earlier this year.

Worcestershire spin bowler Josh Baker, from Redditch, was just 20 years old when he died in May, less than two years after making his first class debut for the county.

On Saturday, members of Astwood Bank Cricket Club will set off from their ground, before heading to Worcestershire's home New Road, Baker's former school of Malvern College, and finishing at Barnards Green Cricket Club.

"We find it touching, humbling, that people want to do this in Josh's memory," said his father Paul Baker.

The Telegraph reported earlier this year that the player died from a heart defect.

Money raised from the marathon will go to the JB33 Foundation, a charity being set up by Baker's parents in their son's memory to support local cricket clubs.

His mother, Lisa Baker, said that among other things, the charity would help clubs with their safety equipment.

"Although a lot of cricket clubs have defibrillators now, they do need the upkeep. Batteries need to be checked, the pads need to be checked," she said.

Mrs Baker remembered her son being taken aback by his sporting success at such an early age.

"It was obviously his dream, but never thought it was going to happen to him," she said.

"He always gave it his best, and absolutely loved what he did."

"[It's] always at the back of all our minds, where he could have gone with it," added Mr Baker.

"And it's just an absolutely disastrous shame that his life ended when it did, without fulfilling all his potential."

Baker's friend Josh Dickenson has organised Saturday's fundraising marathon.

"I'm sure he'd be pretty touched by it," he said. "I'm sure he would find a way to take the mick out of us somehow, that's what he was like.

"But I'm sure he'll be with us."

Mr Baker said he hoped the charity, and the marathon, would help to keep his son's memory alive.

"[Cricket is] a sport he loved, a sport we love," he said.

"And if we can help in any way to give clubs or individuals to have the life we've had through cricket… that's what we'd like to do."

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