Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

largely attributed to the increased success of their bowling. In 1910 they had taken their wickets at 27.20 runs apiece, with only two sides having a higher figure. In 1911, wickets were secured at 22.83, and only four sides – one of them being Kent – had a lower figure. It was unfortunate that Warwicks were obliged to play the annual Champion County v England at The Oval. They had run out of steam and were probably unprepared mentally for a match in which the champions almost always did badly. Though lacking Kinneir, with lumbago, the champions’ batting, with the Stephens twins, and Parsons at No.8, looked strong enough. The bowling was a worry though; Quaife, Santall and Charlesworth, none in the first flush of youth, had shown signs of tiredness. There was still the lion-hearted Field of course, seemingly immune to the strains placed on his near 37-year-old body, but even he was human, as his elbow problems had shown. Foster, who had had a few days rest with relations in Pontefract, won the toss but the innings was a disaster, right from when Lancashire’s Dean removed Tiger Smith for a ‘duck’. Foster appeared listless while making an unhappy 15 and, in two and a quarter hours, Warwicks were dismissed for 129. Dean took four wickets but the most impressive bowler was 20-year-old leg spinner, J.W.Hearne. His five wickets, Foster included, proved the value of a young spinner if given the opportunity. England went easily to 162 for one at the close, Hobbs and Mead going well. What followed was agonising; England batted well into the third day (of four) before declaring at 631 for five. Hobbs fell for 97, caught behind off Foster, but Philip Mead and C.B.Fry both scored centuries 41 and P.F.Warner a magnificent 244, a career best, which seemed to augur well for England’s forthcoming Ashes series, when he would be skipper. Contemporary reports say the fielding never flagged, but there were some horrendous bowling figures. Poor, worn-out Frank Field conceded 181 in 48 overs without even the consolation of one wicket and in fact no Warwicks bowler has ever conceded so many runs without reward. Foster’s 38 overs cost 155 runs, but he did have the wicket of Hobbs. One does wonder about Foster, taking advantage of Field in such a manner. Perhaps he would have been excused had he lost his appetite for cricket yet he gave lion-hearted and effective service until his fortieth year, only war putting a break on his activities. A day and a half left and 502 needed to force England to bat again: then another disastrous start, with opener Parsons run out at 13 going for a risky run! Rain gave brief hope of a draw, but it only freshened The Oval wicket, and before lunch on the fourth day Warwicks had lost by an innings and 365 runs, still their heaviest defeat. What an anti-climax. At dinner at the Grand Hotel on Thursday, 21 September, Foster was presented with a token of appreciation for his leadership and Lilley 48 Tell Kent from me she hath lost 41 Fry’s fourth century in succession; only he had done better, with six in 1901.