A Sonny day after dark week for English cricket

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'I think he enjoyed that!' - Baker takes his first Test wicket

When Sonny Baker walked into his first press conference as a Test cricketer he was told it was customary to sing a song.

For a moment it looked like he might just do it.

The 23-year-old fast bowler makes an impression on everyone he meets. The most engaging of interviewees, the difficulty is stopping him talking.

England coach Brendon McCullum is another to have been taken in. He thinks Baker is "going to be a cricketer the country really gets behind".

Day one of the second Test against New Zealand was not the bustling Somerset quick's first England appearance but it was undeniably his best.

After recording the worst 50-over figures by a debutant against South Africa last year and again going wicketless on his T20 bow in Ireland, Baker claimed 2-63 from 15 overs.

Most importantly, with a hop and a step to begin his run, throwing his arms in the air at every turn, he was himself.

When asked how his day was, Baker said: "Awesome, could you tell?

"I'm so thankful to have a proper debut that is reflective of where I'm at. My biggest learning from the Ireland debut was I felt like I wasn't being myself."

Baker's first wicket, Rachin Ravindra edging to gully, came in his seventh over.

The six before had taken him to 17 wicketless overs in international cricket but were the most threatening this Test had seen to that point.

His third delivery, one followed with a glinting glare, beat the edge of Henry Nicholls' bat. When the next ball was missed, Nicholls was the recipient of the Baker smile.

"I'm the biggest carry-on ever," added Baker, who later added the key wicket of Daryl Mitchell.

"Surely I should get stuck in, oohs and aahs if the ball beats the bat, super excited, a long follow-through every time that happens.

"That's just how I am. I made a big commitment to myself coming into this, of that's how I want to be and go about things. That's me, so I might as well be authentic."

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Highlights: Second Test in the balance after England take late wickets on day one

Unlike his fellow debutant wicketkeeper James Rew, who was told he was replacing Jamie Smith in the sauna on Tuesday, Baker had a couple of days to prepare for his Test bow after Ollie Robinson's knee scan on Saturday.

A keen note-maker, Baker has a book with pointers to remember for each battle but also how to deal with the stress that comes from a debut on cricket's biggest stage.

A lot of it is about embracing the occasion.

"Even last night I was struggling to eat, and fuelling as a fast bowler is super important," he said. "This morning I felt the anxiety build up in my stomach.