Keith Barker and his older sibling Dean’s father enforced good behaviour at home. If they were playing cricket, however, it was a different story – he never complained about a shattered ornament here or a broken mirror there.
But ever since Dean taught Keith, age 4, his first stepover, cricket has had a rival. Keith declined a Lancashire contract when he was 16 years old and threw himself into football, starring for England Under-18, Under-19, and Under-20 and signing with Blackburn Rovers. But his ambition of regularly scoring goals as a professional was snatched away by the whims of new management, chance, and fancy.
Barker begins his 15th summer as a professional cricketer on Thursday when Hampshire hosts Nottinghamshire at the Rose Bowl in the opening round of the 2018 County Championship.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” he says. “We’ve put in a lot of work in the background, and the guys are raring to go.”
We’ve been pursuing the trophy for some time, we’re near, and it’s been within reach twice.
The last time Hampshire won the Championship was in 1973, but they have been a contender in recent years, led by one of the best attacks in the country – with Barker, Kyle Abbott, and Mohammad Abbas pawing the ground at the top of their marks, each capable of wreaking havoc, and each having taken 50 or more first-class wickets last season.
“Before we signed Mo Abbas, I recall saying, ‘Imagine Abbas and Abbott on the same squad, it would be phenomenal’ – and it is. Their abilities are extraordinary, and they are so consistent in what they do that they rarely fail.
“You have three bowlers who could very easily open the bowling. Some weeks it could be Abbo and Mo, and other weeks it could be me and Mo. I don’t care how we do it, as Abbo might say; just get off the field. Abbo is very aggressive, I play my way, and Mo is just so skilled.”
During his ten years at Warwickshire, Barker was mentored by Graeme Welch, a former Warwickshire and Derbyshire all-rounder. “He was adamant that I didn’t start bowling variations as a young player, and he told me. ‘When you get older, you’ll be able to bowl whatever you want as accurately as you want,’ which is perhaps what is happening now.” And those varieties? He shakes his head; the information is a trade secret.
Traditionalists and Strauss review supporters have clashed in the County Championship for years.
But Barker, who was a member of the team that lost that nail-biter to Warwickshire on the final day of the 2022 season, sending Yorkshire tumbling to Division Two, does not see a need for significant changes to the competition.
“It has become more thrilling and competitive over the past few years. There have been several close finishes; every outcome is crucial; you must be vigilant. Even if a team isn’t contending for the championship after the season. It is desperate to remain in the top flight. Last year’s match against Warwickshire left us wondering, “What happened?” How did we fail to win the game?’
He is excited about the Kookaburra ball trial for two rounds in June and July. “They had to do something, but I believe Dukes eased off the gas because there was no competition.” Over the past five years, balls have gotten softer and worse, but from what I’ve heard, the problem has been identified and corrected. Interestingly, they are testing a distinct brand of the ball at this time.”
A few days before the Cricket Discipline Commission’s verdicts, I ask him about his experiences with race in cricket.
“It’s not that people have said things, but as a black person, you become acutely aware of how people can perceive you based solely on how they stare at you without speaking to you; this can make you feel a bit aloof. As a sportsman, you become cognizant of it but don’t say much because it can be difficult to initiate or approach difficult conversations. And what of the ECB’s endeavors to make the game fairer? It is too soon to tell.
Barker has extended his contract until 2024 when he will be 38 years old, and he is philosophical about the future, having great respect for the youthful bowlers at Hampshire who will one day replace him.
“Football is a rough sport; it helped me transition into cricket. I was surprised that you could talk to a first-team star at lunch as a second-teamer. That was not the case in Blackburn. I work on my game, know what I need to prove, heed my coach, and put in extra effort in areas where I feel I am lacking. When I first started playing cricket. I thought, “Well, I have a two-year contract; if I can play one or two one-day games, I’ll be satisfied.”
While the majority of his football-playing colleagues have retired after fifteen summers, he has more than proven himself.
