Barnett to face harassment charges

Kim Barnett, the former England cricketer and county stalwart, is to stand trial accused of harassing his ex-wife.

Barnett, who played four Tests in 1989 and was man of the match in his only ODI in 1988, is alleged to have followed his former wife, Janet, to her home and place of work and left pictures of her in his car in locations where he knew she would see them.

Now aged 52, Barnett enjoyed a long career in the county game. He captained Derbyshire to the Sunday League title in 1990 and the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1993 before going on to play a key role in Gloucestershire's glory years at the turn of the century.

He was one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year in 1989 and played for Staffordshire as recently as 2010, but was made redundant from his coaching role with the county at the end of last year. He was also dismissed from his job with a luxury car firm last year after crashing a Bentley at 90mph.

Barnett denied the charges at North Staffordshire Magistrates Court on January 24 and was granted bail. His trial will take place in March at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.