The allrounder, who has taken 497 wickets for Warwickshire in all competitions since joining the club ahead of the 2009 season, has signed a two-year contract at Hampshire
Hampshire have signed Keith Barker from Warwickshire
Keith Barker will end a decade-long association with Warwickshire and move to Hampshire this autumn.
The allrounder, who has taken 497 wickets for Warwickshire in all competitions since joining the club ahead of the 2009 season, has signed a two-year contract at the Ageas Bowl.
Barker, 31, won the County Championship with the Edgbaston side in 2012 and was awarded his cap the following year.
A former professional footballer, he takes a career haul of 4,297 runs with him to the south coast and could face Warwickshire next season after the side were promoted to Division One.
Barker spent 10 years at Edgbaston
"I have had 10 fantastic years at the club and enjoyed every minute. I will always be proud of the success we have had during that time and am delighted for us to finish on a high," he said.
"I am now very excited to be taking on a new challenge at Hampshire but would like to thank everyone at Warwickshire who has helped me along the way, especially Graeme Welch who made a big difference to my bowling early in my career.
"I would like to wish them the best for the future."
Warwickshire sport director Ashley Giles said: "Keith has made a huge impact in his time at Edgbaston, winning trophies across all three forms of the game and forming a potent new ball partnership with Chris Wright, which will be remembered fondly by our members and supporters for years to come."
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Posted by David Rimmer on 27/09/2018 at 22:17
Kieth Barker's ability to get late movement, primarily into the right-handed batsman, will be much missed. Your article was slightly incorrect. In all forms of cricket for Warwickshire, he took 497 wickets (359 in the first class format and 138 in limited overs cricket) and not 251. Warwickshire will be hoping that Messrs Norwell and Miles from Gloucestershire will fill the gap left by the departures of Barker and Chris Wright. With the young quick bowler Henry Brookes together with Hannon-Dalby and Chris Woakes (on occasions), the Bears seam to have enough seam bowling cover. Whether it will be good for division one cricket, only time will tell. Barker will be missed.
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