Foster Wilfrid Image 1 Worcestershire 1899

Description

Great Malvern, Worcestershire born right hand batsman Wilfrid Foster was educated at Malvern College and played for Worcestershire before it gained first class status in 1899, making his first class debut against Yorkshire in Worcestershire’s first ever match at that level, though he had a personally unmemorable game in scoring 0 and 22. However, the season as a whole was a success for him: he made 1,041 runs in all, and topped Worcestershire’s batting averages with 42.57. Against Hampshire, both he and his brother Tip scored a century in each innings; Wilfrid scored 140 and 172 not out, the former being his maiden first-class century, and the latter being his highest first class score.

Foster played three first class matches (none for Worcestershire) in 1900, but was then out of the game for several years owing to his service in the Boer War. He returned to first class cricket in 1903, but never again played more than a handful of games in a season. From 1903 he was employed by the Birmingham-based glassmaking company of Chance Brothers, which might explain his only very moderate success with the bat. Foster also appeared for Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) and the Gentlemen. His last match was in 1911 against Middlesex.

By then he had played in 38 first class matches between 1899 and 1911. With a highest score of 172 not out among 3 centuries, he scored 1,993 at an average of 30.66, taking 18 catches in those games.

He was also an amateur footballer, playing for The Corinthians, including scoring their only goal in the 1898 Sheriff of London Charity Shield replay against Football League winners Sheffield United which resulted in the sides sharing the honour in a 1-1 draw.

In his military career, he attended the Royal Military Academy and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in November 1894. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 17th November 1897, and served in the Second Boer War 1900-1901, during which he was promoted Captain on 16th January 1901. He was seconded for a staff appointment in South Africa as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General in April 1902. He later served in the First World War, for which he won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

He was one of several first class cricketers from the same family. His brothers Harry, Tip (who played for England), Basil, Geoffrey, Maurice and Neville all played first class cricket for Worcestershire, similarly his brother-in-law William Greenstock, and his nephews John Greenstock and Christopher Foster. On only two occasions did four of the brothers play in a first class match together. In both cases the brothers involved were Geoffrey, Harry, Tip and Wilfrid. The matches, both in August 1905, were against the Australians at Worcester and against Somerset at Taunton.