By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

BRAUNTON’S Jon Baglow has declared his innings over in Devon League cricket after more than 30 years running in to bowl.

Baglow, who will be 52 later this month, spent most of his playing career at Kelsey, but with stints at Westleigh, Cove in Hampshire and Torquay sprinkled in. 

Devon League records are notoriously inaccurate, but Braunton’s archive has Baglow listed as taking 542 wickets across three decades, and scoring more than 2,500 runs.

There were three seasons (2002-2004) in the Thames Valley League with Cove while a student in West London. Two summers and 29 games with Torquay (2006-2007) produced 34 wickets, which included a five-wicket Premier haul (5-46) against Exmouth.

Those stats would have been greater without spending part of three summers working in the United States.

Devon’s management were looking at Baglow as far back as 1995 when he played in a warm-up game against Glamorgan 2nd XI at Instow. He went on to appear three times in one- and two-day cricket for the county. Latterly, Baglow has been turning out for the Devon over-50s’ side.

It has been quite a career for the Barnstaple-born cricketer, who started out as a left-arm fast bowler who morphed into an occasional top-order batter and slow-bowling spinner.

Baglow was talent spotted by the Devon age-group scouts and had featured for the under-19 side when he moved to Braunton for the 1992 season It was Braunton’s first back in the Premier Division after a two-year absence and they finished runners-up behind Sidmouth.

“Down to the last day of the season we still could have won it,” said Baglow.

Baglow said age and decrepitude were the reasons he has decided to retire.

“Over the last few years I have consistently been getting two serious injuries a season that have meant I have missed multiple games,” said Baglow.

“The last one was the first time it impacted the family. I was pretty much housebound for two-to-three weeks.

“Playing with little niggles and never being fully fit has taken the enjoyment out of the game. 

“The team has also proved they can win games without me, so they don’t need me anymore! Now feels like the right time.”

Looking back on three decades as a player, Baglow said it was hard to pick out highlights, but he had a go!

“I have played with and against some great players,” said Baglow.

“The club is a special place and we have had lots of ups and downs over the years. players.

“The team when I joined surprised a lot of people. For me highlights were two promotions, and three hat tricks.”

Baglow was at his bowling prime in the mid-to-late 1990s when Devon were the top Minor County in the country with four two-day titles and three one-day cups between 1992-1998.

Getting into the side was tough, which limited Baglow’s opportunities.

“I would have liked to have played more games for the county, but the standard was very high during that time.

“I felt I was sometimes lucky to get overs with Braunton when we had myself, Iain Bond, John Barnett, Ryan Horrell and Steve Moore, all of whom represented Devon.”

Sam Reddick, a Braunton team-mate and latterly captain, said: “The standard Jon held himself to made everyone around him a better player.

“It was a true pleasure to share the field with him. All of us at Braunton CC want to thank Jon for being an outstanding playing member over the years. We look forward to seeing him around the club, enjoying a pint, in future seasons.”