BAICHAN, Leonard
D. O B: May 12, 1946 
Rose Hall, Berbice
Teams:    West Indies, Guyana
Leonard Baichan was a left-handed opening batsman, who represented Berbice, Guyana, and later the West Indies in three Test matches between 1974 and 1976.
Baichan was not a stroke-maker by any means but was blessed with remarkable powers of concentration.
In a Guyana team with the likes of the late Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran, Clive Lloyd, Rohan Kanhai and Faoud Bacchus, he was content to play within his limitations, often blunting the attack and tiring the bowlers so that the others could dominate.
Consistent scores in the Regional Shell Shield tournament earned him a place in the 1974-75 party to India and Pakistan under new captain Clive Lloyd.
He made his Test debut in the first match against Pakistan in Lahore, opening the batting with fellow countryman Roy Fredericks. He made 20 and an undefeated 105 ensuring the match was drawn. In the second Test he had scores of 36 and 0 not out as the game fizzled towards another draw.
He ended the short series with 161 runs at the excellent average of 80.5 runs per innings.
Baichan was picked again as the third opener for the tour of Australia in 1975-76 but inexplicably he was only given a game in the sixth and final Test at Melbourne after the series was already lost 4-1.
This was also after Gordon Greenidge had failed four times in two games and the likes of Bernard Julien, Alvin Kallicharran and Vivian Richards were asked to open the batting.
In the Melbourne Test he batted at #3 and had scores of 3 and 20 yet ended his three-match career with a healthy average of 46 per innings.
Baichan played for Guyana until 1982 when he left for overseas.
RECORD:
TESTS:  3 RUNS: 184 AVG: 46.00        HS: 105* v PAK., Lahore, 1974-75
CENTURIES: 1     CATCHES: 2
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