James Foster (cricketer)

James Savin Foster (born 15 April 1980 in Leytonstone, London) is an English cricketer: a wicket-keeper who played seven Tests and 11 One Day Internationals in 2001/02 and 2002/03. Foster played his club cricket at Ilford Cricket Club and then Wanstead & Snaresbrook Cricket Club. He was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and Durham University, as was fellow cricketer Nasser Hussain, subsequently Foster's captain at Essex and for England. He never cemented his place in the England line-up, and after breaking his arm in a freak practice accident then by the time Alec Stewart finally left the scene first Chris Read and then Geraint Jones had moved above him in the selectors' thoughts.

Playing Style

Foster, who is known by the Essex fans as Fozzy, is often regarded as the best wicket keeper in the game. In July 2011 Alec Stewart described him as the best pure wicket-keeper in the world. This is a fact that is underlined by his ability to stand up to the stumps to many quick bowlers with consistency and excellence, and for his athleticism standing back. However, his batting is seen as mediocre by the England selectors and therefore falls behind Matt Prior, Steven Davies and Craig Kieswetter in terms of a starting place in any form of the game. Foster's batting is reliant on cuts, pulls and sweeps. In all forms of cricket, Foster uses the reverse sweep effectively. Foster usually bats at seven for Essex in all...
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