Gareth Barry to be offered new West Brom contract after honing fitness on the cricket pitch

The 38-year-old may be the Premier League’s record appearance maker, but he’s been turning out in the third tier of the Cotswold Hills Cricket League instead over the past few weeks.

Currently recovering from knee surgery which cut short his time in the side last season, the England international turned to cricket during July to aid his rehabilitation.

An all-rounder for Temple Grafton Cricket Club, Barry is a middle-order batsman who also bowls a bit, and fellow team-mates have told the Express & Star they've been impressed.

Because he was officially released by Albion at the end of June, he was a free agent in July and therefore able to play just under half a dozen cricket games without breaking any contractual agreements.

Although he did suffer the ignominy of being dismissed first ball in a defeat to Badsey, he’s also made some useful runs down the order and taken some important wickets, particularly in a victory over Kenilworth Wardens.

Barry has also been training at Albion over the summer, but his cricketing career is coming to an end, for now at least, because Baggies boss Slaven Bilic has confirmed he will be offering the midfielder a new contract.

After signing plenty of young and hungry players in the transfer window, the Croatian is keen to bring Barry’s experience back into the dressing room.

“Gareth Barry is recovering well, starting to run well,” said Bilic today. “It is our plan to give him a new contract.

“He played really well last season. He’s one of the guys that age doesn’t matter. Firstly, of course we want to see how he recovers but so far so good.

“His experience would help any team in the world, not to mention us, that has a few young players, players who never played senior football and some players from different leagues.”

After just staying up last season, Temple Grafton are once again embroiled in a relegation battle in the Cotswold Hills League Second Division.

In his last game, Barry took one wicket for 25 runs off his five overs, before making 31 with the bat at number six, but Temple Grafton lost to Leamington Fourths by 62 runs.

The week before he made just five with the bat, and didn’t bowl as Temple Grafton beat Stoneleigh by two wickets.

He was dismissed first ball in a defeat to Badsey at the start of July, but finished on 12 not out and took two wickets for 12 runs in a tight victory over Kenilworth Wardens the week before.

Footballers playing cricket in the summer used to be much more common than it is now, and those under contract are now expected to refrain from playing other sports.

However, last summer, England goalkeeper Joe Hart – who was a promising young cricketer himself – played a match for Shrewsbury Cricket Club.

James Milner played age group cricket for Yorkshire and plans to take up the game when he retires from football.

Phil Neville was also England under-15 cricket captain before he and brother Gary picked football instead.