Worcestershire are not scheduled to play again in the County Championship until May 10, when they travel to Canterbury to face Kent. There are five Championship matches starting this Friday, which will go ahead as scheduled, with players expected to mark the news with black armbands.

In 2022, Baker came across an inspired Ben Stokes in a Championship match at New Road. Stokes, playing for Durham, hit the youngster for five successive sixes and 34 in a single over. Baker later recalled the incident, revealing a text message he had received from Stokes that evening saying “please don’t let today define the rest of your season” and informing him that he had “serious potential and [I] think you’ll go a long way”.

Baker said last year: “He’s a world-class cricketer and it’s his job to score runs, so it was a big shock to get it – and really nice. It felt like it came from him, as well – it wasn’t like a generic, robotic message. I messaged him back, and we had a bit of a chat the next day about what I could have done different, which was really nice. I asked him when did he want to hit me for six sixes, and he said: “From ball one. Even if it was Nathan Lyon, I’m still going to try to take him on.” 

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I took massive confidence from it as well. It shows his character. He’s a fierce competitor on the pitch, but off it, he’s a really good bloke. You’ve seen that from his documentary as well. He just seems so down to earth – not big-time. He’s got the time of day for a teenage cricketer’.”

Tributes poured in from across the game, with the England managing director Rob Key describing the news as “absolutely heartbreaking”.

Richard Thompson, the England and Wales Cricket Board, chair, said: “This is devastating news, and it’s shocked and saddened all of us at the ECB. We extend our best wishes to Josh’s family and friends, to everyone who knew and loved him, and to everyone at Worcestershire CCC.”

Rob Lynch, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said: “Everybody at the PCA is heartbroken to hear of Josh’s passing and we offer our sincere condolences to all his family, friends and teammates. Josh was a cricketer with his full career and life ahead of him and this news is impossible to comprehend.

“The PCA and the Professional Cricketers’ Trust are working to support Josh’s family, his team-mates and all PCA members who are affected.”