Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

Table-topping Surrey were next at Edgbaston but Foster cared little for reputations and totally stole the show on day one. Going in at 124 for three he went on to a marvellous 200 out of 307 in three hours, with three sixes and 21 fours. Contemporary reports say he drove with supreme power and authority and was particularly severe on Surrey’s best bowler, Hitch. His fifty came up in 45 minutes, 100 in 100 minutes and 150 in 140 minutes. He added 125 for the fourth wicket with Parsons, 151 for the fifth with Lilley. He was finally caught by Hobbs chancing his arm against occasional bowler W.A.Spring. There was only one bit of luck; he called Parsons for an ‘impossible’ single, Hobbs threw the ball in but it struck a bowler’s footmark, evaded Strudwick and went for four overthrows. Warwicks were all out 501 just before the close. Next day Surrey struggled to 182 for nine before a stand of 130 between Hitch, whose 82 occupied 62 minutes and Strudwick took them to respectability. Foster batted again and Kinneir and Tiger Smith answered his call for quick runs, adding 176 in 135 minutes, Smith achieving a maiden century, and Foster asked Surrey to score 396. The track was good but fine bowling by Field seemed to be sending his side to victory at eight down for 187. Unfortunately Ernest Hayes, who scored a hundred, after annoying Foster and his men by refusing to ‘walk’ when caught at slip, was joined by Rushby and an unbeaten stand of 82 saw the game saved. ‘Atrocious luck,’ pleaded Foster, but really an inability to wheedle out tailenders was the problem. Warwicks remained mid-table but Foster was into his batting stride; the fuse had been lit. Meanwhile a break from the county scene. The Gentlemen met the Players at The Oval, then Lord’s. Foster was picked for the former each time, but slightly surprising were Kinneir’s selection for The Oval, and Tiger Smith for Lord’s. Manifestly, despite their side’s inconsistency, their play had been noted, and there was a party for Australia to be selected. The Gentlemen won the toss at The Oval and their innings of 466 was dominated by a superb 190 in five hours by Lancastrian R.H.Spooner, but Foster at No.8, dominated a seventh-wicket stand of 64 in 35 minutes with Kent’s A.P.Day; Foster’s share was 40. The Players’ innings was a personal triumph for Kinneir; perhaps sensing the possibility of a belated overseas tour he batted nearly five and a half hours for a magnificent 158. The highlight was a stand of 145 in two hours with George Gunn. Maybe the dour, taciturn Sep permitted himself a satisfied smile, perhaps removing his cap to give the spectators a sight of his bald pate and even downing a quick half – of shandy of course – later. Foster took only two wickets but would certainly have been delighted for Kinneir. Foster then crossed the Thames, making for Lord’s for the second of the season’s matches of a series that had epitomised cricket’s social divide since 1806. Quite what Tiger Smith, working-class Brummie from Benacre Street, Highgate, thought of it all is unknown but he would have been delighted to represent the Players opposing his county skipper. The Gents put on a solid show but Foster, from No.8, alone attempted to ‘get after’ Syd Barnes, who had dismissed five of the best batsmen. Foster 38 Tell Kent from me she hath lost