Then in May 2024, tragedy struck the cricket community. Twenty-year-old Josh Baker suddenly died from an undiagnosed heart condition that took all by surprise. Just hours before his untimely departure, he was set to play in the final day of a Worcestershire second XI match against Somerset. Baker’s passing is a tremendous loss to his family and friends. We hope they will continue sharing their story as they navigate their grief journey and begin celebrating his legacy.
On the morning of his passing, Josh’s best friend and teammate—Henry Cullen —was at a critical turning point in a playoff game. All he did after that was take one delivery and absolutely pulverise it for four runs. With that blow, he closed for history a win that has accreted poignant meaning and memory since. All of those who loved and knew Josh had made it out to the match. It turned out to be an emotional, touching tribute to the young cricketer with a brilliant future.
Josh was an only child and had grown up completely immersed in the world of cricket. He made 47 appearances for Worcestershire and had some memorable escapades in the process against other players including Jacob Bethell. He really did enjoy an amazing cricket life. In his last first-class season—2010-11—he was part of England’s Ashes-winning tour to Australia, and bowled at the Sydney Cricket Ground in an Ashes Test.
His parents, Australian cricketer Lisa and Australian football star Paul Tongue both have deep roots in Australia. They have passed the whole Ashes series over there, celebrating times when they are reminded of their son. Lisa shared what a privilege it is to now feel connected to Josh while in Australia, saying,
“Coming to Australia is very special to us now. We feel closer to him out here at Christmas than we would at home.”
This emotional connection grows stronger as they meditate on how much Josh loved cricket as well as life in general. Just weeks before his untimely death, he was able to enjoy a wonderful winter cricket experience in Sydney. In those public moments, he perhaps fantasized about a future filled with more test matches and priceless memories.
To celebrate Josh’s life and memory, his parents created the JB33 Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to assisting young cricketers and raising awareness of cardiac conditions in sport. The initials “JB” along with the number “33” now adorn the front of Worcestershire’s shirts, serving as a lasting tribute to Josh’s legacy. His parents are now hell-bent on making sure that his story lives on and rings true to everyone who is part of the cricket community.
Fellow musician and songwriter Paul, from Legends, expressed his huge disappointment at having 98% of their foundation fundraising efforts rejected. He stressed the need to build success stories in Josh’s honor.
“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?”
The Tongues are dedicated to continuing their son’s spirit through positive change that will help reshape the world for other young people. They struggle with their grief, as Paul noted:
“It’s tough because the memories keep popping up on my phone. They’re wonderful, but they absolutely break your heart. I look back at them and that was when we were happy. That’s so difficult.”
Though the weight of loss is great, Lisa and Paul take comfort in the memories they look back on together. They recall Josh’s passion for music and how a single song can stir powerful feelings. Lisa spoke fondly of his obsession with this side of his life, stating,
“He loved his life. Music was a big part. Certain songs come on and I have to take a deep breath.”
While they mourn Josh’s absence and counseling helps them process their grief, they vividly recall his exuberant spirit and love for cricket. All too often, he would have been off the field, forced to give up chasing his dreams and inspiring everyone around him.
Yet the couple understands that this is exactly where Josh would have liked to be this time of year, telling us that,
“I don’t doubt that he wouldn’t have spent a Christmas at home for a long time – he’d have been out here playing cricket.”
Their commitment to ensuring that his life — and death — leads to meaningful changes is inspiring and seen in their deeds and messaging to the public. Paul told me that he wants people to know who Josh was and how he affected everyone around him.
“We want people to know of him and know about him,” he said.
The emotional cost of losing a child is incalculable. Lisa and Paul will not let grief consume their lives and are determined to honor Josh’s memory by telling more people about his story. It’s important that his legacy is remembered, and we want to make sure that happens through our continued work with the JB33 Foundation.
Josh’s death serves as a stark reminder of life’s fragility, especially within the realm of sports where young athletes face risks that often go undetected. The JB33 Foundation has and continues to work tirelessly to shine a light on heart conditions. Along the way, it gives a ton of love and support to young cricket talent.
Leave a Reply