Edward George Barnard is a talented cricket player from England, known for his combative nature and ability to thrive under pressure. Born on April 23, 1996, Barnard hails from Worcestershire and has emerged as a promising player through the Worcestershire Academy, showcasing his potential to bring better times for his club.
Unlike some of his peers, such as Joe Clarke who joined Nottinghamshire for his England ambitions, Barnard decided to remain with Worcestershire, believing that the relatively young side had not yet reached its full potential. This decision demonstrated his loyalty towards the team that had recently won the T20 Blast for the first time.
Barnard initially made an impression in the professional game as a bowler and quickly became a first-choice selection in white-ball cricket after making his debut in the summer of 2015. However, it is worth noting that his batting skills were also recognized at a young age. He received two man-of-the-match awards at the England U-19 level for his batting prowess. In January 2013, Barnard scored a century against South Africa in an U-19 Test match, helping his team to victory despite a challenging start to the innings. He followed this up with a notable 93 against the UAE in the U-19 World Cup in February 2014.
In 2016, Barnard had a solid first full season, impressing both with his bowling and batting. Although his statistics might not fully reflect his capabilities, his director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, commended his performance in first-class cricket. He scored 430 runs at an average of 26.88 while batting towards the lower order and took 31 wickets at an average of 43.58.
The following year, in 2017, Barnard’s performance was even more impressive. He played a crucial role in Worcestershire’s promotion by claiming 47 Championship wickets and averaging 36.25 with the bat. In white-ball cricket, he excelled with the bat, topping his team’s batting averages in the Royal London Cup. Additionally, he made notable contributions as a bowler in T20 cricket. Despite being unable to generate high pace, Barnard gained respect for his exceptional talents both as a batsman and a bowler.
Barnard attended Shrewsbury School, where he became the eighth pupil from the school to be signed by a first-class county in six years when he agreed to a summer contract in 2014. Before joining Worcestershire, he represented Shropshire in Minor Counties cricket and played for Shrewsbury in the Birmingham League. His skills and potential were recognized early on when he became a part of England’s Under-19 World Cup squad in 2014.
Edward George Barnard’s cricketing journey continues to progress, and with his talent, dedication, and commitment to Worcestershire, he has the potential to make significant contributions to the sport in the future.
