Charles Barker (cricketer)

{{Special draft pending|date=March 2024}}

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Charles Barker

| image =

| fullname = Charles Frederick Barker

| birth_date = {{birth date|1847|7|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Hereford, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1891|11|29|1847|7|5|df=yes}}

| death_place = Hereford, England

| batting =

| bowling =

| role = Batsman

| club1 = Canterbury

| year1 = 1873/74

| date = 14 October

| year = 2020

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36380.html Cricinfo

}}

Charles Frederick Barker (5 July 1847 – 29 November 1891) was an English cricketer. He played in two first-class matches in New Zealand for Canterbury during the 1873–74 season.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36380.html C Barker], CricInfo. Retrieved 14 October 2020.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/21/21391/21391.html Charles Barker], CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 May 2025. {{subscription}}

Born at Hereford in England in 1847, Barker's family moved to New Zealand when he was child and he was educated at Christ's College in Christchurch.McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 15. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. {{isbn|978 1 905138 98 2}} ([https://archive.acscricket.com/cricketers_series/new_zealand_cricketers_1863-64_2010/index.html Available online] at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 June 2023.) Described as "a good bat, with great power of hitting" and a "fair field",Cricket, The Star, issue 1828, 9 January 1874, p. 2. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18740109.2.10 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.) he played club cricket for Kaiapoi, whom he captained,"Press" club v Kaiapoi club, The Press, volume XVIII, issue 2700, 25 December 1871, p. 3. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18711225.2.19 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.) and Christchurch Cricket ClubCricket, Lyttelton Times, volume XL, issue 4028, 22 December 1873, p. 3. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18731222.2.15 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.) and was elected secretary and treasurer of the Canterbury match committee in December 1873.News of the day. The Press, volume XXI, issue 2621, 31 December 1873, p. 2. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18731231.2.12 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.) He had been selected as a replacement for an injured player in the Canterbury squad ahead of its match against Otago in January 1873, with The Press considering that he was good enough to have been selected in the initial squad of 18 players.Cricket: the interprovincial match, The Press, volume XXI, issue 2328, 18 January 1873, p. 2. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18730118.2.14 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.)

Barker did not play in the match, and made both of his representative appearances came during the 1873–74 season. He made scores of 13 and 30 on debut against Auckland at Hagley Oval in November 1873, before scoring 29 and two against Otago at South Dunedin Recreation Ground in January 1874. Although the Canterbury team which played Otago was considered weak, writing five years later The Globe considered that Barker was the "one good player" who was new in the side. The paper described him as "one of the most punishing batsmen we have seen", although it was critical of his fielding during the match.Cricket: interprovincial cricket matches, The Globe, volume XXI, issue 1715, 19 August 1879, p. 4. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GLOBE18790819.2.23 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.) He was still playing for Christchurch in the mid 1880s, by that time being described by The Star as "an old cricketing identity".Midland v United, The Star, issue 5212, 19 January 1885, p. 4. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18850119.2.32.5 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 12 May 2025.)

Professionally Barker worked as a solicitor. He died at Hereford in 1891 aged 44.