Keith Barker signs Hampshire contract extension

The 35-year-old allrounder made 10 appearances for Hampshire in last season's County Championship, scoring 379 runs at 27.07 and taking 41 wickets at 18.41

Keith Barker has signed a contract extension with Hampshire which will keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2023 season.

The 35-year-old allrounder made 10 appearances for Hampshire in last season’s County Championship, taking 41 wickets at 18.41 – a haul only Kyle Abbott (46) and Mohammad Abbas (41 at 15.87) could better amongst his teammates. It was also his best return in a County Championship season since 2018, when he also took 41 wickets, and the seventh 40-plus wicket season of his career.

18 of those wickets came in his final three outings of the season, including career-best innings figures of 7 for 46 against Nottinghamshire and a crucial 4 for 51 against Lancashire as Hampshire prevented their hosts from picking up any batting bonus points in the final match of the season – Lancashire missed out on the County Championship title by 3.5 points.

Equally important at times with the bat, Barker scored 379 runs at 27.07, including three half-centuries and a pivotal 84 against Middlesex in May – his highest score as a Hampshire player.

^{Barker and Chris Wright with the County Championship trophy in 2012 [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

Prior to joining Hampshire ahead of the 2019 season, Barker represented Warwickshire, whom he signed for in 2009 following a four-year stint as a footballer. He went on to win the 2012 County Championship with the Bears, taking 56 wickets at 20.82 and scoring 304 runs, as well as the 2010 Clydesdale Bank Pro40, 2014 T20 Blast and 2016 Royal London Cup.

In total, Barker has made 445 career first-class appearances, taking 445 wickets and scoring 4,397 runs. He has also taken 69 wickets apiece in List A and T20 cricket, although he is yet to feature in either format for Hampshire.

Commenting on his contract extension, Barker said: "It’s a great feeling. I felt I did pretty well last year and to be able to go again for another two years, I couldn’t ask for anymore really. I really want us to get that red-ball trophy and push as hard as we can for that - we’re taking the right strides this winter and hopefully we can get over the line next year."

Director of cricket, Giles White, added: "Keith has been one of the leading allrounders in the longest form of the game for years. It’s not just the runs and the wickets that make him such a valuable member of our squad. He also plays an important role off the field and has become a well-respected leader within the group. We are obviously delighted that he will be playing a part in the club over the next couple of years."