Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

would have been almost more than humanity, or the average Rea Bank spectator could have stood. One hopes they thanked Foster. Fortunately after a first-innings collapse Quaife gave evidence of his own adhesive qualities. Quaife finished with an unbeaten century in five hours and actually outdid Knight, reaching the boundary only four times, but the star turn was young Frank Foster. He joined Quaife at 163 for five, his side still not out of the woods. Eighty minutes later they were safe. Foster raced to 51 out of 75 in 45 minutes and carried on to 97 out of 136 added with Quaife in 80 minutes. Sadly he was robbed of a glorious maiden century when he went down the wicket to the slow, innocuous and negative C.J.B.Wood and was bowled leg stump. According to Foster, Wood apologised for dismissing him with the worst ball of the innings. Disappointing end notwithstanding, any doubts about Foster were now gone and he had enabled his side to draw a game seemingly lost. As the Warwicks season went into decline – twelfth position was not good enough and spelled the end of A.C.S.Glover’s captaincy 30 – Foster too seemed to lose form. He and his colleagues received a dreadful hammering from local rivals Worcestershire, for whom Ted Arnold and W.B.Burns added 393 for the fifth wicket, still the best partnership in any Worcestershire match, and the best against Warwicks by any team until 2000. Worcestershire declared at 578 for six and inflicted upon Warwicks their heaviest ever defeat at Edgbaston – an innings and 233. Foster stuck to his task, figures of two for 115 in 47.1 overs comparing favourably with those of his team mates. Foster regained form in the next match, innings figures of six for 46 against lowly Gloucestershire, but achieved little else of note on the first-class scene. After this game he went up to Pontefract visiting his Rowbotham relations and maybe the Foster Brothers shop. For Pontefract against Castleford he scored 173 not out in 90 minutes, his 35 fours including nine in succession. He also took four for 40 in a total of 150. Pontefract must have desired further visits while one wonders whether Yorkshire officials heard the news and rued the day William Foster decided to travel south to seek his fortune. On the first-class circuit Foster’s season had become demonstrably stale, but he was after all only 20. His batting had improved remarkably; he achieved 541 runs at an average of 22.54, with three half- centuries all in quick time. His 49 wickets at 27.67 may seem unimpressive in generally favourable conditions, but he was inexperienced, not yet of man’s estate and a reading of the reports suggests the seasoned professionals were usually given first chance though not always taking proper advantage. The Warwicks committee had now become well aware here was a jewel in their midst. But how to keep him? Already Foster had hinted he owed himself first and foremost to business and spring 1910 saw matters become more urgent. He had met a girl, fallen Young cricketer making his way 27 30 Alfred Glover, a useful batsman but undistinguished captain, was fortunate in never having to work, though he suffered severely reduced circumstances in later life.