Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

violin in Manchester children’s orchestra and the groundsman’s son. Foster needed to get them pulling in the same direction. Foster’s other message was to play positively. ‘Always attack’ was a motto he adhered to all his life and he was ever-critical of those players guilty of what he regarded as too much caution, which he felt was allied to on-field selfishness. He reckoned ‘The bat should always beat the hands of the clock. By that I mean at least sixty-one runs an hour and, if both batsmen at the wicket cannot manage that between them, it is a sorry look out for the poor spectator and for the advance of brighter cricket.’ For the most part Foster’s ideas struck a chord with the professionals, with one sad exception. Arthur Frederick Augustus Lilley, known as ‘Dick’, was now 44, a veteran of 35 Tests, and had played for the county before his new skipper was born. Sadly matters ‘blew up’ in mid-season. The team for the Lancashire game was Foster, Lilley, Kinneir, Charlesworth, Quaife, Baker, Parsons, Lt Cowan, Santall, Tiger Smith, and Field. Two changes from The Oval side yet, in hindsight, not too bad a team on paper. Foster needed to convert paper theory to on-field effectiveness, and how he was to succeed! Foster won the toss and elected to bat, sending in Lilley and Sep Kinneir to launch a new era. Three wickets had fallen for 79 when down the pavilion steps swaggered the new skipper, no doubt wearing his trademark white muffler and eager to make an impression. A minute or so later he was walking back whence he came. Maybe he tried to force the pace too soon, or Jimmy Heap beat him in flight, or spun the ball more, or less, than expected. Whatever the cause Foster was bowled first ball. What a start! There was then a slump to 91 for six, but welcome succour came from an unlikely place. Lt Cowan, villain of the Surrey debacle, and a couple of tailenders took the score to 201, Cowan’s share an unbeaten 51. Cowan had progressed to Captain, and a war had intervened before posting his second half-century, but clearly he was no complete duffer. Despite his inauspicious start with the bat Foster led his men out for the first time with head unbowed and Lancashire were soon 13 for two. Unfortunately Lancashire’s No.3, Johnny Tyldesley, was still there and his record against Warwicks was awesome – 2,627 runs, ten centuries, average of 75.05. So, what did the skipper do? Let Foster himself take up the story: When Tyldesley came in first wicket down I, like the fool I am, beckoned to Jack Parsons and requested him to take the next over. Dick Lilley exclaimed ‘Great Scott! Are you mad?’ In his first over Jack bowled the worst ball I have ever seen, a yard outside Johnny’s leg stump. What did Johnny do? He swung his bat round with his left hand only, as much as if to say ‘this ball is no good’ the ball hit the edge of the bat, went up into the air, and ‘Tiger’ Smith caught Johnny out at 13. Foster’s crazy switch had paid off and with his first ball Parsons had dismissed one of England’s greatest with a crass long hop. ‘Take him off Tell Kent from me she hath lost 33