Sonny Baker: England’s new fast bowler recruit on bowling at Steve Smith and David Warner

Baker is also a prolific note-maker, something he puts down to his education.

At the time of his first stress fracture he was targeting a place to study biology at the University of Oxford and now he records analysis on opposition batters in a little book, along with plans and hopes for the future.

“I’ve just found it keeps me involved in the analysis stuff and then really remember it,” Baker says.

“It would be an absolute nightmare if you’re not really sure whether you’re meant to bowl wide or straight and then you pick the wrong one.

“You can’t really justify that to yourself at the end of the game.”

The Hundred means there is already a page in Baker’s notebook titled with the name of an Australian great.

Of the 12 balls Baker bowled to Steve Smith when Welsh Fire hosted Manchester Originals last Monday, three were hit for four and another three resulted in a false shot.

“It has been surreal, writing notes on Steve Smith thinking ‘am I actually going to be opening the bowling at him?'” Baker says.

This is the company Baker now keeps, however and, having rehabbed in Sydney after his most recent back injury, he has spent the past two winters in Australia.

Another will likely come this year with the young quick expected to be part of the Lions squad shadowing the Test team around the Ashes series.

From there anything can happen.

Far more unlikely names have been plucked by England to make a Test debut down under.

“I mean, that would be good fun, wouldn’t it?” Baker says.

“I’ll refer back to notes on any matters and Steve Smith is one of the red-ball GOATs [greatest of all-time] so I’d definitely be coming back to that analysis if I end up needing it.

“But let’s just worry about the next few games first. Let’s not get too far out of ourselves.

“We’ve got a Hundred to try and win and then South Africa series to try and win and then Ireland series try and win way before we think about any of all of that stuff.”