Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

playing the fading champions. And Warwicks won overwhelmingly, by 303 runs, at the time their biggest ‘runs’ win: for several years it was also Northamptonshire’s biggest beating. One can come up with no feasible explanation for such a sudden and complete – and for Warwicks, temporary – turn-around in performance. Warwicks batted first and were given an excellent start by Smith and Charlesworth but collapsed from 237 for five to 247 all out. Northamptonshire were smartly dismissed for only 53 towards the end of the first day. Foster, with five for 22 in 14 overs, and Field, five for 27 in 13.2 overs, bowled unchanged – wonderful restoration of their 1911 form. Foster did not invite Northamptonshire to follow on and led by Smith’s 91, Warwicks pushed on, leaving Northamptonshire a day and a half to make 464. The visitors submitted so abjectly they only just prolonged proceedings into the third morning. Best bowlers this time were Quaife, five for 30, and medium pacer Collin Langley, with three for 33. Langley became better known for non-playing activities at Edgbaston. His personal book collection became the basis for the Collin Langley Library, from 1998 until 2004 a popular refuge for supporters during lunch, tea or weather breaks. In another championship break the Gentlemen took on the Players at Lord’s but Foster declined his invitation, feeling needful of a rest. Warwicks now went to Lord’s; Middlesex were contesting the top places, though it helped that most of their games had been at headquarters. The match was marked by poor weather and play and Middlesex owed much to ‘old’ Jack Hearne, whose nine wickets overshadowed his distant relation ‘young’ Jack. The team underachieved but the skipper still won praise for the way he refused to slow the game down when time was running out, enabling Middlesex to win with just two minutes left. After the match Warner wrote to Foster: Dear Frank, Unfortunately I was not able to play in the match just finished but I have heard all about it. Middlesex are proud of Warwickshire. Will you kindly tell Mr Ryder that he may choose any date he likes next summer for the continuation of such a friendly game as Middlesex has just had with Warwickshire. Yours as ever, Plum This had been the first meeting of the counties and Middlesex and Warwicks now travelled up to Edgbaston, possibly together, for the return. The metropolitans as ever proved they were only half the team when forced to play north of Watford. Conditions favoured the bowlers and although Tarrant showed his all round worth, he was excelled by Foster. In the Middlesex first innings Foster had five for 58 in 34 overs of unrelenting leg-theory and he received 70 Vicissitudes down to war