James Foster      

Full name James Savin Foster

Born April 15, 1980, Whipps Cross, Leytonstone, Essex

Current age 29 years 221 days

Major teams England, Durham UCCE, Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club

Nickname Fozzy, Chief

Batting style Right-hand bat

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Height 6 ft 0 in

Education Forest School; Durham University

James Foster was earmarked early on as an England wicketkeeper in the making. After just four first-class matches for Essex he was selected for the England A tour of West Indies in 2000-01. At this point he was still sharing the English season between his studies at Durham University and playing for Essex, but once he committed full-time to cricket he was being talked of as a successor to Alec Stewart. His chance came on the 2001-02 one-day tour of Zimbabwe, where he made his debut at Harare, before earning a spot on the trip to India after Stewart opted out. He made a nervous start at Mohali, but became more assured during the tour and impressed with some determined innings. He retained his place for the tour of New Zealand after Christmas, but was ousted from the one-day squad when England searched for greater balance by using Marcus Trescothick. Then came a cruel break - literally - when his arm was broken during nets with Essex, allowing Alec Stewart to slot back into the team. Though Foster performed consistently in county cricket there was no way back in the summer of 2002, but he'd done enough to be the reserve keep on the Ashes tour that winter. He won one more Test cap, at Melbourne, when Stewart injured his arm, but was fighting a losing battle as England attempted to field five bowlers. When Stewart retired at the end of the 2003 season Andrew Flintoff's emergence had opened the way for a keeper at No. 7 - but it was Chris Read, not Foster, who got the nod. Since them, Geraint Jones has claimed the gloves and latterly Matt Prior. He was promoted to vice-captain during the 2007 season and impressed with both his batting and keeping in 2008 - in particular his standing up to the stumps, which was one of the decisive factors of his call-up to England's Twenty20 squad in 2009.
Andrew McGlashan May 2009

NBC Denis Compton Award 2001

Jun 15, 2009

James Foster pulls off his second outstanding stumping in two days, this time to dismiss Dwayne Bravo

© Getty Images

Jun 14, 2009

James Foster celebrates after stumping Yuvraj Singh

© Getty Images

Jun 5, 2009

James Foster dives to make his ground as Dirk Nannes throws

© Getty Images

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