Wisden overview
In 1983 Kim Barnett became Derbyshire's youngest-ever captain at the age of 22, and was tipped in some quarters to get the job for England as well, but he brought a halt to his Test career in 1989 when he decided to join the unofficial tour of South Africa after being dropped during the Ashes series that summer. An unorthodox batsman with a pronounced shuffle across the crease as the bowler delivered, Barnett's decision may have been influenced by his struggles against the high-class seam bowling of Allan Border's side. But he remains, as county cricket's elder statesman, a player with a fine reputation against quick bowling. He was a skilful improviser in limited-overs matches, and scored a matchwinning 84 on debut against Sri Lanka in 1988, an innings that earned him a call-up for the winter tour to India. That tour was cancelled for political reasons, and though he scored 80 and 34 in the first Test against Australia the following summer, Barnett was dropped midway through the series,and never returned. He left Derbyshire in acrimonious circumstances in 1998, but resurrected his career at Gloucestershire. Christopher Martin-Jenkins Adapted by Wisden from World Cricketers: A Biographical Dictionary (Oxford, 1996).

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd