This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(April 2022)
In the 2004–05 academy season, Barker scored 17 goals in 27 appearances, making him the under-18 top scorer, as Rovers won the national academy play-offs. He also scored four times in seven Premier Reserve League North appearances.[citation needed] In 2005–06 he scored 4 times in 11 appearances for the reserves,[citation needed] before being loaned to Belgian feeder club Cercle Brugge in January 2006. He never appeared for their first team.[citation needed]
On 31 August 2006 Barker joined League Two side Rochdale on a three-month loan.[6] He made his professional debut two days later, playing the full 90 minutes in their 1–1 draw with Hereford United at Spotland.[7] He scored one goal for the club in 16 appearances, equalising in a Football League Trophy tie away to Crewe Alexandra on 31 October which finished 1–1, with the hosts winning in a penalty shootout.[8]
Barker joined Irish club St Patrick's Athletic in the summer of 2007 after being released by Blackburn, though his five months there were mostly spent off with injury.[9] On 3 January 2008 he joined Conference National side Northwich Victoria on a free transfer.[10] He made four appearances for the club, all as a substitute.
Barker continued to play for Enfield, where he was spotted by former England coach David Lloyd, whose son plays for Accrington.[4] On Lloyd's recommendation he was watched by Warwickshire second team coach Keith Piper, and subsequently offered a trial.[12] In August 2008 he was signed on a contract until 2010, after impressing in the second team.[13]
On 19 April 2009 Barker made his List A debut for Warwickshire against Somerset at Edgbaston. Batting at number 8, he made 28 runs before being bowled by Peter Trego. He then took the wicket of James Hildreth, finishing with figures of 1-47 as Warwickshire lost by 8 wickets.[14] In 2012, he formed an unexpectedly potent opening attack with Chris Wright that played a key part in Warwickshire winning the County Championship with a game to spare.[15] Barker is eligible for England and the West Indies, as his father was born in Barbados.[2][16]
On 26 September 2018, Barker signed for Hampshire on a two-year deal from 2019 onwards,[17] taking 37 Championship wickets in his first season, before extending his contract further on 15 January 2020.[18] In August 2020, in the opening round of fixtures in the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy, Barker took his 400th first-class wicket.[19]
