Mooroopna’s Ethan Baker comes through with promise and a point to prove

As the prospect out of England’s south coast embarks on his first excursion, he lands in the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield seeking more than wickets and an occasional handy knock with the bat.

More than what the stats provide, he’s here to make a point to himself.

A point that, as he returns to the regular demands of top-level play following a serious mid-year setback, the only way is up.

He might not have picked it up for the first time at a junior blasters-esque age level, but he sure came on in stride to kick-start his time in the sport.

“I started quite late compared to many, maybe at 10 or 11 years old,” Baker said.

“I got involved just because a mate told me to come play for our local club at Bramshaw and it started off quite well.

“I enjoyed it a lot and kept carrying on and then I started to take it more seriously around 13 or 14 when I signed with Hampshire.

“At that point I thought ‘Let’s take it proper now’.”

A meteoric rise given his starting point, to be sure.

Baker would occupy a place in the Hampshire junior pathways throughout his adolescent years before nabbing a coveted spot in the academy side as his age-18 season approached.

He received 12th man experience in a handful of senior squads, sharing valuable locker room experience with the likes of Test-capped stars Dom Sibley, Rory Burns and James Vince in that time.

It was shortly after this point, as the tall all-rounder sat on the verge of his crowning moment with a senior call-up, that obstacles began to make themselves apparent.

Three of them, to be precise.

“I was on my final year signed with the Hampshire academy and they were deciding whether to give me a professional contract,” Baker said.

“Unfortunately, as the next summer was about to begin, I got three stress fractures in my spine and I was unable to play.

“I wanted to take a year out elsewhere, as everyone says it’s a good opportunity here.

“Now I’m getting involved so I could get back into the swing of things and hit the ground running in England playing second XI cricket.”

The mission statement writes itself.

Stronger, better, faster — more professional.

Baker knows where he needs to end up and now his efforts in Haisman Shield will prove vital in fuelling that dream.

His bowling has so far proven the critical asset, taking multiple wickets in the majority of his outings to date, featuring 3-33 in the Cats’ long-awaited maiden victory of the season over Old Students.

He wasn’t done taking those opportunities, either, with his import status not standing in the way of a Northern Rivers berth as he mixed it with the state’s next in line through the Victorian Country Cricket League.

How did it all come together that, of all avenues to search out for a jump-start to his resurgence, Mooroopna was the solution?

The answer lies in a success story where the Cats and their past imports are concerned.

“I went on to a site with a few other Hampshire guys and I was looking at some Melbourne clubs,” Baker said.

“I had heard of Roman Walker, who came here in the past, and now he’s a pro at Leicestershire.

“Having access to a gym and having had someone pro come here in the past, it felt like there was no risk.

“It’s a good group of lads at the club, so I’m just enjoying the experience playing my cricket.”

The word “enjoying” hadn’t appeared anywhere up to now — but yes, there’s plenty left to for Baker to rediscover beyond just the reps and stats.

It’s frustrating to miss just about a full domestic season through injury, but the anxiety would amplify multiple times over when the timing threatens to derail your progression into the pros.

Calm as ever, though, Baker remains steadfast and determined.

“It was a real inconvenient time for it with big decisions to be made, but by no means has it deterred me,” Baker said.

“The road to making it is never flat and it’ll always be up and down, but it was difficult.

“Four months being unable to run was the longest I’ve ever gone without bowling and, although, I got fit for a couple of games towards the back end of the season, I might have put a bit too much pressure on myself and forced it.

“It’s good to get out here, where I’m finding my love for the game and playing for that enjoyment aspect.

“I’ve had a few good performances, but I’ve got more to give in that aspect, so I just need to get it right to be able to perform back home and push for a contract.”