A physically imposing and aggressive left-handed batsman, Geoff Barnett is one of the few Canadian cricketers to have forged a first-class career overseas, playing as an opening batsman for Central Districts in New Zealand. He was born, raised and lives in New Zealand, but his mother had been born in Canada and as a teenager Barnett contacted clubs there with a view to playing there on a working holiday. He received a reply from the Canadian CA asking if he wanted to play for the national side! Barnett juggles his international duties with state ones, and as such misses Canada's games which clash with the New Zealand season. He made 136 on his first-class debut for Canada against Kenya in July 2006, although his ODI debut two months earlier was less impressive, scoring a three-ball duck against Zimbabwe. Although he did not play in the World Cricket League in early 2007, he was nevertheless an automatic pick for the World Cup squad.

He had a quiet World Cup, making 40s against Kenya and New Zealand, but after spending another domestic season in New Zealand was one of Canada's leading batsmen at the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa, making a century against Uganda and contributing a string of aggressive cameos. Barnett cut an anonymous figure in Canada's Intercontinental Cup games that year, and endured a disappointing run in the midst of a mediocre team performance at the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in February 2010. Barnett took no part in the 2009-10 domestic season in New Zealand, and appeared out of touch at the World Cricket League Division One tournament in Netherlands in July 2010, making 123 runs in six innings at 20.50.
Martin Williamson