Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

views’ on bodyline, views not coinciding with those of Foster. When he spotted Foster in the pressbox Henley shouted, ‘Get out. You are nothing else but a traitor to your own country.’ ‘Rats,’ replied Foster. ‘Well, come and read what M.A.Noble has written about leg theory,’ said Henley. ‘Go to blazes!’ replied Foster to Henley, whom Foster describes as ‘6 feet 4 inches or so.’ Foster went on, ‘I do not wish to read what other people write. I know all about the difference between leg-theory and body-line without going to school again. And listen, Falstaff, why do you call me a traitor?’ ‘Because,’ Henley replied, ‘you have supported Australia against your own country. I was brought up to understand that once an Englishman, always an Englishman, but you have gone dead against the country in which you were born and bred.’ ‘Do you frankly mean that a traitor is one who supports right over wrong?’ said Foster, seeking to make a pun over his name. ‘That is beside the question,’ replied Henley, ‘and you haven’t the slightest idea what went on in Australia in 1932/33, because you were not present.’ ‘Have you ever been to Australia, Mr Henley?’ ‘No,’ he replied. ‘Well, I have and what is more my soul lived there during the last series of murderous Test matches. I am not a traitor, because time will prove that Australia are absolutely correct in their stand against body-line.‘ ‘I think Jardine stuck to his guns well,’ said Henley. Foster cut in: ‘Listen baby have you ever heard of such a thing as cricket goodwill, because if you have not it is about time you did? England visit Australia as cricket ambassadors, to further goodwill and respect between the countries, not to cause trouble and friction.’ Foster went on to say that Australia would not come to England in 1934 unless MCC gave way on bodyline. The debate rather degenerated and, with the rest of the press corps looking on, Henley finally pleaded he had work to do. The debate was now running out of steam anyway; Foster’s last meaningful contribution to cricket was fading away, as indeed was Foster. However one must mention a letter Foster received in March 1933, and which he claims moved him to tears, showing that despite his belligerent attitude in some facets of cricket, and his cheap and shabby private life, he still had a heart. Written from 11 Wellington Road Handsworth Wood and dated 28 March 1933, it reads word for word: Dear Sir, I trust you will forgive this intrusion from a perfect stranger, but as a great admirer of Warwickshire’s former captain I feel I would like to write and say how greatly I enjoyed Cricketing Memories . Owing unfortunately to my being at present out of a position I have been unable to purchase a copy, but had been informed that same could be seen at the Public Library, where I spent a pleasant two hours yesterday. 104 The shambolic 1930s