Keith Barker signs two-year contract extension with Hampshire

Since joining the club from Warwickshire, Barker has scored 1,438 runs and taken 138 wicket in 40 first-class appearances

Keith Barker has signed a two-year contract extension with Hampshire which will keep him at the club until the end of 2024.

The allrounder arrived at Hampshire ahead of the 2019 season after spending nine years with Warwickshire.

Since then, he has established himself as a mainstay of the club's LV= Insurance County Championship side, scoring 1,438 runs at 28.19 and taking 138 wickets at 22.61 in 40 appearances.

He impressed in his first season at the club, picking up 38 wicket in 2019, and, the shortened 2020 aside, has improved year on year, with 41 red-ball wickets at 18.41 in 2021 and 52 wickets at 22.38 in 2022 – fourth overall in Division One and second only to Kyle Abbott among Hampshire bowlers.

^{Barker in action with the bat during the 2022 season [Mike Hewitt/Getty Images]}

He also scored a career-best 595 runs, including four half-centuries and was named the PCA County Championship player of the year for his all-round contributions.

A firm favourite at Hampshire, he also collected the club's fans' player of the year and red-ball bowler of the year awards.

In addition to his first-class efforts, Barker has made three List A appearances for Hampshire, scoring 57 runs and taking four wickets.

Commenting on his new contract, Barker said: "It's a brilliant feeling. The club have been amazing with me ever since I joined, I can't think of anywhere else I would want to play my cricket.

"I get on really well with all the players and coaching staff, and I'm looking forward to building on the success we had this season over the next two years."

Director of cricket, Giles White, added: "I can't speak highly enough of Keith; he has been great for us over the years.

"As well as being a wonderfully skilful and consistent performer, he has become a popular and influential figure around the club."