James Foster

Foster is a talented wicketkeeper-batsman who has impressed many observers with his performances for Essex.

The Durham University graduate’s early promise was rewarded with an England A call-up for the tour to the West Indies in 2000/01 after only four first-class appearances for his county.

And he made his one-day international debut during the third game against Zimbabwe at Harare in 2001, claiming two stumpings as England won by five wickets.

He also made his five-day bow that winter at Mohali in the first Test with India, but managed only five runs in two innings as the tourists lost by 10 wickets.

After missing a large part of the 2002 domestic season due to injury, Foster’s international experience continued in Australia when he featured in the fourth Ashes Test at Melbourne in December the same year.

Since then Foster, who played for England in the 2009 World Twenty20, has been a prolific run-scorer in all formats for Essex while also continuing his high-standard of glove work and taking on captaincy duties.