Frank Foster, English cricketer (d. 1958)

Frank Foster: A Brilliant Cricketing All-Rounder of the Edwardian Era

Frank Rowbotham Foster (born 31 January 1889; died 3 May 1958) was an exceptional English cricketer who carved out a remarkable, albeit tragically brief, career as a true all-rounder for both Warwickshire and England. His promising trajectory in the sport was abruptly halted by a serious accident during the tumultuous years of World War I. Despite this premature end, the sheer brilliance of his achievements during the early 1910s firmly establishes him as one of cricket's most naturally gifted and impactful all-round players of his time, often ranked among the finest to have graced the game.

Early Life and Educational Background

Foster's formative years included an education at Solihull School, a distinguished independent institution located in the West Midlands region of England. This provided the foundation before his ascent into professional cricket.

A Unique All-Rounder: Bowling Prowess

Foster's bowling was a spectacle of skill and innovation. He was a fast-medium left-handed bowler, renowned for his ability to manipulate the ball's release in a way that produced astonishing results. A particularly evocative description from the esteemed Wisden Cricketers' Almanack noted that his delivery could "double its speed upon hitting the ground" – a testament to his unique action and deceptive pace. He delivered the ball from an unusually wide position relative to the bowling crease, yet maintained remarkable accuracy due to the natural inward swing generated by his fluid body action. Furthermore, his considerable height, standing at approximately 6 feet 1 inch (or 186 centimetres), was a significant asset; it allowed him to extract an exceptional amount of bounce from the pitch, making him a formidable challenge for batsmen, especially on responsive surfaces.

Aggressive Batting Style

As a batsman, Frank Foster was characterized by his aggressive approach and rapid scoring rate. He possessed a wide repertoire of strokes, enabling him to dominate attacks and frequently dictate the tempo of an innings. Indeed, a notable feature of his major innings was his ability to score at a rate exceeding a run a minute, a testament to his attacking mindset in an era where scoring rates were generally much slower. However, his technique was not without its imperfections. On challenging or difficult wickets, certain major flaws in his batting became apparent. These fundamental issues were something he was never fully able to rectify throughout his career, and at crucial moments, they undeniably cost him valuable runs and sometimes, his wicket.

The Ascent to Stardom: Early County Career with Warwickshire

Of Lincolnshire ancestry, Frank Foster had no familial connection to the celebrated Foster cricketing dynasty of Worcestershire. He first made his debut for Warwickshire in 1908, showing immediate promise by taking 23 wickets cheaply across five matches. However, there was a contemporary concern that he was overexerting himself by attempting to bowl excessively fast. The following season, in 1909, he became a regular fixture in the Warwickshire team. While his overall success was modest that year, it was during this period that he began to exhibit his nascent ability as a hard-hitting batsman, hinting at the all-round talent that would soon blossom.

It was in 1910 that Foster truly began to demonstrate the full spectrum of his exceptional abilities. He secured an impressive 91 wickets for Warwickshire at an average cost of 22 runs per wicket, and for the first time in his career, he surpassed the milestone of 100 wickets across all matches – a remarkable feat, especially considering the predominantly wet summer, which typically would not have favored his style of bowling. His prowess also earned him recognition in the prestigious Gentlemen versus Players matches; he notably took 4 wickets for 34 runs in the second innings at The Oval, replicating these exact figures the very next week at Lord's. While the Lord's performance that year was somewhat tempered by the notoriously worn central part of the square, which caused the ball to consistently keep low, Foster's reputation on good wickets was so high that he was selected to represent the Rest of England against Kent. Kent had, that season, dominated county cricket more comprehensively than any team since Yorkshire in 1901. Despite this significant call-up, Foster struggled to find his length in this particular high-profile fixture.

The Phenomenal 1911 Season and Championship Glory

The 1911 cricket season began with considerable uncertainty regarding Frank Foster's participation, as initial reports suggested business commitments might prevent him from playing any cricket after he had even accepted the Warwickshire captaincy. Yet, what unfolded was an extraordinary and iconic season, an unprecedented display of his capabilities from the very first moment he stepped onto the field. Early in the season, his astute leadership and innovative tactical use of "change bowlers" proved instrumental in securing crucial wickets for Warwickshire in several early matches. A highlight in early June saw him achieve the coveted "match double" against Yorkshire, taking an impressive 9 wickets for 118 runs in the first innings and simultaneously scoring his maiden first-class century, despite Warwickshire ultimately losing the match. While Foster had significantly improved Warwickshire's standing during the unusually hot and dry weather of May, a brief spell of wet weather in June temporarily pushed the team back to mid-table by the close of that month.

However, when the intensely hot and dry conditions returned, Warwickshire embarked on an unstoppable run of victories. With Foster and his teammate Frank Field making unparalleled use of the extremely fast wickets created by the arid conditions, the team won match after match, their progress only occasionally interrupted by a few draws stemming from exceptionally high-scoring games. This remarkable surge culminated in Warwickshire triumphantly claiming the County Championship title for the first time in their history. During this golden period, Foster's individual performances were nothing short of legendary: he scored a magnificent 200 runs against Surrey and a blistering 105 runs in just an hour against Yorkshire. His bowling feats were equally astounding, exemplified by his incredible return of 11 wickets for 73 runs against Northamptonshire in the final match of the season. For the entirety of the 1911 season, Foster topped both the batting and bowling averages for his county, a truly rare double distinction that underscored his supreme all-round dominance. Consequently, his selection for the highly anticipated 1911/12 Ashes tour to Australia came as no surprise to anyone.

Ashes Success Down Under

On the 1911/12 Ashes tour, Frank Foster adapted his unique bowling style to the rock-hard, bouncy wickets of Australia with unparalleled success, arguably better than most English bowlers of his generation. His performance in the five Test matches was exceptional, claiming 32 wickets at an outstanding average of 21.62 runs per wicket – a feat that has rarely been surpassed by subsequent visiting bowlers. He made an immediate impact, taking five crucial wickets in the second innings of his Test debut in Sydney. While he batted consistently throughout the tour and made valuable contributions, he didn't record any colossal scores in the Test series, though he did demonstrate his batting prowess by hitting two centuries in minor, non-first-class matches.

Later Career and Lingering Flaws

The prevailing sentiment at the time was that Warwickshire's unexpected 1911 Championship victory was largely an anomaly, heavily influenced by the abnormal weather conditions, rather than a definitive reflection of their inherent ability. This view seemed vindicated in 1912, a summer that was as unusually wet as 1911 had been dry. After an initial strong start where they won their first four games, Warwickshire subsequently fell back to mid-table. This change in conditions starkly exposed the flaws in Foster's batting technique, particularly on slow and treacherous pitches, leading to a significant drop in his batting average from 44 in 1911 to a modest 19 in 1912. Despite these batting struggles, Foster's bowling continued to be remarkably effective. He delivered notable performances, including taking 5 wickets for 16 runs in a Test match against South Africa, an impressive 11 wickets for 87 runs against Middlesex, and a strong return of 12 wickets against Leicestershire.

As in previous years, there was renewed speculation in 1912 and particularly in 1913 that business obligations might again prevent Foster from playing cricket. Indeed, 1913 proved to be, for the only time in his distinguished career, something of a disappointment in terms of overall performance, even though he did manage to strike a brilliant century against Hampshire, showcasing his aggressive capabilities. However, by 1914, Foster had triumphantly rediscovered his superb bowling form of 1911. Beyond his bowling resurgence, he also produced an astonishing innings of 305 runs against Worcestershire, which significantly boosted his batting average for the season to a respectable 34. In what would regrettably be his final significant match, against Surrey (who were the County Champions that year), Foster played an unfamiliar role as an opener on a challenging pitch, scoring a valuable 81 runs. He also delivered a sensational bowling performance, taking 9 wickets for 72 runs, with an impressive eight of those wickets being clean bowled dismissals, underscoring his continued mastery with the ball right up to the war's outbreak.

Tragic End to a Brilliant Career and Enduring Legacy

Tragically, Frank Foster's illustrious cricketing career was brought to an abrupt and permanent halt by a severe motor-cycle accident in 1915, in the midst of World War I. This injury rendered him unable to resume playing cricket when the war concluded in 1919, robbing the sport of many more years of his exceptional talent. Despite his career being cut short, his impact on the game and his status as one of England's premier all-rounders of his era are undeniable. His insights into his career and the sport were later captured in his memoirs, which were published in 1930, offering a valuable historical perspective from a remarkable talent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Frank Foster

Who was Frank Foster?

Frank Rowbotham Foster was a highly acclaimed English cricketing all-rounder from the early 20th century, known for his exceptional fast-medium left-arm bowling and aggressive left-handed batting. He played for Warwickshire and represented England in Test cricket.

What made Frank Foster's bowling unique?

Foster's bowling was distinctive due to his ability to impart incredible pace upon pitching, described by Wisden as making the ball "double its speed upon hitting the ground." He bowled from wide of the crease but maintained accuracy with natural inward swing and gained significant bounce due to his height.

Which was Frank Foster's most successful cricketing season?

The 1911 season was arguably Frank Foster's most successful and remarkable. He led Warwickshire to their first County Championship title, topping both batting and bowling averages for his county, and achieving numerous individual milestones in both disciplines.

How did Frank Foster's cricketing career end?

Frank Foster's promising career was prematurely ended by a severe motor-cycle accident in 1915 during World War I, which prevented him from resuming professional cricket after the war concluded.

Is Frank Foster related to the famous Worcestershire Foster cricketing family?

No, despite sharing the surname and being prominent cricketers of the same era, Frank Rowbotham Foster was of Lincolnshire descent and had no relation to the renowned Worcestershire Foster family of cricketers.