Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

dismissed twice in two balls by the opposing skipper. 53 Something more sinister – neither Geoffrey nor Neville Foster was able to bat in the second innings, both having been called to their regiment. As the Foreign Office statement issued on 4 August bluntly put it: ‘ … His Majesty’s Government have declared to the German Government that a state of war exists between Great Britain and Germany as from 11 pm.’ The shades were lengthening on a world which ended with the forthcoming hostilities, and the next opponents, Yorkshire, had their captain, Sir Archie White, reporting for action. It was a disappointing match; left to score 260 to win with plenty of time available, Foster decided to open and fired a quick 43 but once he departed 67 for three soon became 96 all out. Happily Derbyshire, on a treacherous Derby wicket, proved less of a problem. Foster and the veteran Santall each took five first-innings wickets, Jeeves and Foster, with four apiece did the second innings damage. A target of 115 in a day and a half should have been a formality, but Warwicks slumped to 56 for four. The skipper came to the rescue however, scoring 48 of a winning fifth-wicket stand of 59 with Quaife. Nine wickets and more runs than anyone on either side; a captain’s victory. An inexperienced leg spinner of about 5ft 2in got the county’s next match, with Kent, off to the worst of starts. Flighting cleverly and spinning seductively, ‘Tich’ Freeman had the batsmen all at sea and took seven for 25 in ten overs to have Warwicks all out 111 before lunch on the first morning. Foster’s 28 was brief but merry but only Kinneir, ninth out for 31 showed Freeman the necessary respect. County batsmen unwilling to use their feet would have enough trouble from Freeman after the war but here his success was unexpected. On a beast of a pitch Kent matched the Warwicks score exactly, but Warwicks were again dismissed before the close of the first day and in easier conditions on the second morning Kent posted a nine-wicket victory. Portsmouth was to be the venue for the following match but the international situation saw it transferred to Southampton. A brilliant 92 in 95 minutes by Foster saved his side from serious harm but Hampshire had the better of an even game, winning by four wickets after Foster gave himself only six late overs. Along to Canterbury, and another first day full of action; Foster and Field had four wickets apiece as they sent Kent packing for 167 but there was sufficient first-day time left to see Warwicks too, all out, for 179, their slender lead due almost wholly to a whirlwind 61 in 50 minutes from Jeeves. Fiery bowling by Foster, who had figures of five Vicissitudes down to war 88 53 The main details of this story came from Tiger Smith in old age, and Leslie Deakins, long time Warwicks secretary. It is an interesting comment on county cricket in another age. Maurice Foster did what he did because he knew he could get away with it. Doubtless he did not fancy a second cheap dismissal. The umpires were Harry Bagshaw, ex-Derbyshire, and William Phillips, a comparative tyro from Lancashire, a Test umpire in 1921 but who later disappeared from the scene so completely that nothing is known of his later life. Reappointment to the first-class list was vital. They could not afford to get on the wrong side of so influential a family.