James Foster (cricketer, born 1980)

For other people named James Foster, see James Foster (disambiguation).

James Foster

Personal information
Full name	James Savin Foster
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Role	Wicket-keeper
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 609)	3 December 2001 v India
Last Test	26 December 2002 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 164)	3 October 2001 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI	13 February 2002 v New Zealand
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2000–present	Essex
2004–2009	MCC
2001	Durham UCCE
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODI T20Is FC Matches – – – – Runs scored – – – – Batting average – – – – 100s/50s –/– –/– –/– –/– Top score – – –* – Balls bowled – – – – Wickets – – – – Bowling average – – – – 5 wickets in innings – – – – 10 wickets in match – – – – Best bowling – – – – Catches/stumpings –/0 –/0 –/0 –/0
Source: CricketArchive, 19 December 2009

James Savin Foster (born 15 April 1980 in Leytonstone, London) is an English cricketer: a wicket-keeper who played seven Tests and 11 One Day Internationals in 2001/02 and 2002/03. He was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and Durham University, as was fellow cricketer Nasser Hussain, subsequently Foster's captain at Essex and for England. He never cemented his place in the England line-up, and after breaking his arm in a freak practice accident then by the time Alec Stewart finally left the scene first Chris Read and then Geraint Jones had moved above him in the selectors' thoughts.

Foster in action against Cambridge UCCE, April 2005

In county cricket Foster has played for Essex since his County Championship debut in 2000 and in 2009 Season was selected as Vice Captain. He had his maiden first-class hundred against Worcestershire in 2001, but two broken bones ruined his 2002 season and though 2003 was a better year there was little hint of the startling summer he was to enjoy with the bat in 2004. That season he hit four more centuries, including 212 against Leicestershire as Essex racked up the small matter of 708/9 declared. He also passed 1,000 runs for the season for the first time, averaging 51.85, and claimed 51 victims. In the 2006 season, he averaged 42.41 in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship and showed good form with the gloves and bat in one day cricket also.

Foster was the recipient of the NBC Denis Compton Award in 2001.

In the winter of 2007/2008, Foster played for England Lions team for their tour to India, after being called up following an injury to Worcestershire's Steven Davies.

Good form with both the gloves and the bat in recent seasons kept Foster in the selectors minds' for a possible recall to the England setup, demonstrated by his selection for the MCC season opener against Sussex in 2008. This was realised when he was picked as the only regular wicket-keeper in England's 30-man squad for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. Debate continued in the run up to the 2009 Ashes series whether Foster should be selected as the Test wicketkeeper for England

Foster played for England in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, receiving high praise for his sharp keeping and stumpings of Yuvraj Singh and Dwayne Bravo. However, due to the preference of selectors for wicketkeepers who can bat fluently, Matt Prior remains the first-choicegloveman for England.

External links

James Foster at ESPNcricinfo