Barker wants more of the same

Want to know what's happening at your county? Interested in how your rivals are faring? Look no further than ecb.co.uk's county-by-county page

Keith Barker is hoping for a seamless transition with Dougie Brown having replaced Ashley Giles as Warwickshire director of cricket.

Giles was appointed England ODI and T20 head coach in November and Brown, formerly Warwickshire assistant and second team guru, was chosen to succeed Giles last month.

Barker, the left-arm seamer whose 56 wickets aided Warwickshire’s LV= County Championship Division One title last year, wants more of the same under Brown.

“I think it’s the right move. It’s good that we kept it internal. Doug knows what’s been going on as such over the last few years under Ash, and hopefully we can just keep going the way we have been,” he told ecb.co.uk.

“He’s very competitive. He likes the boys to train hard, just basically what Ash liked us to be like so it shouldn’t be any different from how Ash was really.

“I think it’ll be pretty much the same as before. Doug’s very enthusiastic about things and he wants us all to work hard. I think that’s what he’ll push us on, keep trying to get better.”

There was plenty of interest in Giles’ vacancy, but Barker is pleased about the likely continuity of Brown succeeding Giles.

“Decisions are made above, but I think it’s probably easier because having someone whose already inside, knowing what’s going on, how we’ve been progressing and how we won trophies, it makes it easier for the team to mold as such and stay the same way,” he added.

“Hopefully it just stays the same. Hopefully Doug doesn’t start throwing massively different changes which knocks us off guard, but he’s not that kind of person I don’t think. Everything will be all right I think.”

Click here for all the latest news from the domestic cricket scene, including exclusive interviews, team news, match reports and photo galleries