Volcanic preparation

When you’ve had to run away from an erupting volcano, the challenges of bowling to international batsmen cannot seem quite as daunting. Lionel Baker was 10-years-old and at home on the tiny island of Montserrat when the Soufriere Hills volcano began to erupt on July 18, 1995.

He still talks about the moment when his island was devastated in a very matter-of-fact way. "The volcano erupted on the east side and I’m from the north side so I didn’t have to move or change houses so I was quite lucky,” he said. “It wasn’t anything to do with running away from the lava, it was more like a pyroclastic flow. It’s more terrifying than the lava and harder to deal with.”

When the volcano blew it destroyed the capital Plymouth and thousands had to flee their homes. Baker was one of the lucky ones, his home was far enough away that it escaped damage but some of his friends weren’t so fortunate.

“We didn’t lose anything at all so were quite lucky. I know a couple of friends who lost houses, cars everything they own and everything they’d built,” he said. “Some of them had just finished building a new house and it all got swept away.

“It makes it a much prouder achievement. It was a small country before and now it is even tinier and having someone from Montserrat represent the West Indies is quite a good achievement.”

No wonder the island has recognised Baker’s achievement in becoming the first international cricketer from Montserrat. Baker Street would normally conjure up images of Sherlock Holmes, but the local government were so proud when Baker made his West Indies debut that they honoured him with his own road.

“I was away in New Zealand, I phoned home and someone told me I had the street named after me,” he said. “It was the street where in the afternoon I used to go and played wind-ball cricket. I was always there.”

Baker’s international career is so far limited to two Test and six one-day internationals. But even to develop one top-level player is a notable achievement for an island whose population is just under 6000. There are only six countries in the world smaller than Montserrat – The Falkland Islands, Niue, Tokelau (both tiny Pacific islands), Vatican City and the Pitcairn Islands.

“It’s a big achievement for me, my family and the people of Montserrat,” Baker said. “I’m very proud and overwhelmed to be the first in history.”

Cricketers have had to leave the island to try and forge their careers although facilities have now returned to allow Baker to train and practice when he returns home. He spent two years at school in England and then played club and county cricket. He had a deal with Leicestershire, but once his West Indies call-up came along he had to ditch that because he no-longer qualified as a local player using his British passport.

And he hopes he won't be the only player to hail from the island. "There are a few good youngsters so hopefully they can follow me into the team."

Baker had to sit on the sidelines and wait during the England series to earn a recall, but was eventually brought back for the final Test in place of the injured Jerome Taylor. “It’s frustrating, but you can still watch and learn,” he said. When you’ve seen your home country pushed to the brink of destruction, everything else comes as a bonus.