VTCA 2020-21: Yarraville Club great Justin Baker set to return

A gun batsman with more than 8000 VTCA runs to his name is poised to return to the competition.

Justin Baker has featured in 10 VTCA Senior Division premierships for Yarraville Club. Picture: Supplied

Yarraville Club great Justin Baker is set to return to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association powerhouse in a bombshell move.

The prolific opening batsman confirmed he would again pad up for the Clubbers via text message on Tuesday.

He said he would play in a Twenty20 fixture against Druids tonight and hoped to take the field in a Senior Division grand final re-match against St Albans on Saturday.

Baker departed Yarraville Club at the end of the 2018-19 campaign after a decorated 15-year career comprising more than 200 games.

Yarraville Club great Justin Baker.

He compiled 8614 runs in the VTCA’s top grade and T20 games after a stint with Essendon in Premier Cricket, hitting 21 tons and 50 half-centuries.

His highest score was a majestic 208 not out against Spotswood in November 2008.

Baker has been a key figure during the Clubbers’ era of dominance in the VTCA, featuring in an incredible 10 premierships and serving as coach, First XI captain and committeeman.

He was in his second season as captain-coach at Buckley Park in the North West Metropolitan association, fulfilling a 20-year promise to return to his junior club.

Baker started 2020-21 with scores of 7, 75 and 0 after hammering 752 runs at 68.4 last season, including a knock of 212 not out against Preston Druids.

It is not known why Baker exited the Beavers, having signed on to lead them for three seasons.

But his arrival is a major boost for Yarraville Club, which lost experienced trio Andrew Cullen, Emmett Bronca and Adam Contessa to retirement last season.

Star all-rounder Will Sheridan also crossed the Subbies club Kew in October.

But in Baker, Trent Lawford, James Damjanovski, Ash Sweet, recruit Chris Martin and new captain-coach Mitch Johnstone, the perennial contender boasts no shortage of talent and again looms as one of the flag favourites.

The Clubbers sit in third position on the ladder with a 3-1 win-loss record, equal on points with top-two sides Strathmore and Doutta Stars.