BRAUNTON medium pacer Jon Baglow has hinted retirement is on the cards after reaching a massive landmark in his career.
Baglow claimed his 500th Devon League wicket in Braunton’s six-wicket win over Countess Wear last Saturday.
Baglow, a former Braunton skipper, feels there is not much left to achieve at the age of 42.
Braunton are fighting to avoid a second successive relegation and if they can stay up that would be one last box ticked.
Baglow hasn’t made up his mind yet, but retirement seems an appealing option.
“I have known about the 500-wicket thing for a while – and that’s kept me going a bit longer than I might have,” said Baglow.
“When I started out playing for Westleigh back in 1990 I never dreamed I would still be playing now.
“I can’t see myself going on for much longer as the game has changed a lot since I started.
“The intensity is different and, we are playing at a much lower level than when I was first at Braunton.
“I won’t be going on for much longer and can see the time coming when the golf clubs come out of the loft and get dusted down for a few rounds with my dad at Saunton.”
Braunton were a Premier Division side in Baglow’s early days and used to yo-yo between the top two divisions on a regular basis.
They dropped out of the top-flight at the end of the 2010 season and have slipped down three more divisions since.
Baglow has had some great days with the ball, starting at Westleigh.
“My best figures for Westleigh were eight for 57 against Galmpton,” said Baglow.
“That weekend we were away to Chudleigh the following day and I got four or five more.
“For Braunton my best was six for 30 against Sandford and in the two years I was with Torquay I had a six for 36 against Chudleigh.
“My best season was 2009 in the A Division when I took 46 wickets and Braunton got promoted.”
Among those 500 wickets is just one hat-trick, which was taken against Axminster in 2013.
Baglow’s wicket-taking prowess didn’t go un-noticed and he played representative cricket for the Devon Cricket Association and the Devon Minor County side.
“I only had the one Championship game for Devon and a couple of one-day cup games and would have liked to play more,” said Baglow.
“There were a lot of fine bowlers around at the time – Matt Theedom, Iain Bond from my own club, Ian Bishop and others – and it was hard to break into the team.
“I don’t think it helped going to work in the United States for three years and having three years up in Hampshire playing there.
“I was close to getting in the side, but there were almost always others.”
Bob Dawson, a former Devon captain, faced Baglow many times while playing Premier cricket for Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth.
Dawson rated the left-arm seamer highly.
“Jon was a very good club bowler,” said Dawson.
“He swung the ball late into the right hander, which is always dangerous.
“And he was a bloody nice bloke.”
