ONE of the Malteenoes Sports Club bright young prospects, Clarence Baird, returned home after an explosive summer of cricket in England.

The 19-year-old tallied 979 runs for two clubs from May to September in weekend cricket matches.

Upon the invitation of fellow Malteenoes cricketer Kellon Carmichael, who plays in the Sussex Premier Cricket League, Baird travelled to the UK to experience the game he loves in a different atmosphere.

The former Demerara U-15 and U-17 batsman told the Guyana Chronicle that the exposure really helped his overall development, especially by interacting with a cross-section of open-minded people. 

He played 16 matches for the Gore Court Cricket Club in the Kent Cricket League and eight games for the Taplow Cricket Club in the Buckinghamshire Cricket League.

The former Queen’s College student tallied 644 runs for Gore in the division-two league on Saturdays, which included a century (142) and five half-centuries (54, 61, 70, 82* and 93); whereas over eight Sundays, he scored 335 runs, inclusive of a century (120*) and two half-centuries (51 and 53) for Taplow.

The teenager also picked up 14 wickets, bowling off-spin for the clubs. He nabbed 10 wickets for Gore and four for Taplow, with best figures of 2-11 off two overs for the latter.

Baird, who has already signed to return next season, said that he found batting in England easier because of the quality of the grounds.  “They have better pitches and faster outfields – better overall training facilities.”