Lancashire Youth: Record Barker (30 Jul 1998)

30 July 1998

Record Barker

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Keith Barker junior has smashed out of sight a 10-year-old batting record held by English cricket's newest star Andrew Flintoff, writes PETER WHITE.

Playing for Lancashire under-11s in the Kent Schools Festival, Keith junior - son of a former league professional - scored an unbeaten 179 out of a total of 244-4.

That left Flintoff's individual festival record of 149 in ruins and other games at the event stopped to give young Keith, who plays regularly for Enfield seconds at the age of 11, a standing ovation.

Dad Keith, watching the festival at Eltham College, said: "He scored 122 last year against Glamorgan so it's not really a surprise that he beat the record this time.

"Everybody was talking about his achievement and he only gave one chance. He was dropped on 150, just after he had passed Flintoff's score."

This is Keith junior's fourth season in the under-11 side for whom he is a key player, not only as a left-hand batsman but also as a left-arm, medium-fast bowler.

A talented all-round sportsman who leaves Peel Park this summer, Keith also plays for Blackburn Rovers' Youth Academy teams.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)