Cricinfo - Players and Officials

Full name James Savin Foster
Born April 15, 1980, Whipps Cross, Leytonstone, Essex
Current age 28 years 145 days
Major teams England, Durham UCCE, Essex
Nickname Fozzy, Chief
Batting style Right-hand bat
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Height 6 ft 0 in
Education Forest School; Durham University

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

226

25.11

654

34.55

ODIs

13.66

57.74

First-class

137

203

6183

212

34.93

367

List A

133

103

1826

69*

23.71

163

Twenty20

669

62*

22.30

489

136.80

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

ODIs

First-class

137

3.00

List A

133

Twenty20

Career statistics

Test debut

India v England at Mohali, Dec 3-6, 2001 scorecard

Last Test

Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 26-30, 2002 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

Zimbabwe v England at Harare, Oct 3, 2001 scorecard

Last ODI

New Zealand v England at Christchurch, Feb 13, 2002 scorecard

ODI statistics

First-class debut

2000

Last First-class

Leicestershire v Essex at Leicester, Aug 27-28, 2008 scorecard

List A debut

2000

Last List A

Essex v Glamorgan at Colchester, Aug 24, 2008 scorecard

Twenty20 debut

Surrey v Essex at East Molesey, Jun 14, 2003 scorecard

Last Twenty20

Essex v Kent at Southampton, Jul 26, 2008 scorecard

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. However, if Foster continues to churn out runs and hold catches for Essex another chance is not out of the question and he was promoted to vice-captain during the 2007 season.
Andrew McGlashan July 2007

Aug 16, 2008

James Foster brings out the paddle-sweep © Getty Images

Aug 11, 2008

James Foster poses with the Friends Provident Trophy...and Boris the Eagle © Getty Images

Jul 26, 2008

Yasir Arafat was superb at the end of the innings © Getty Images

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