James Foster to retire from professional cricket

Wicketkeeper-batsman James Foster has decided to retire at the end of England’s ongoing domestic season. The decision was attributed to the fact that Essex, his domestic team, didn’t decide to renew his contract. In this year’s County Championship, Foster has played only four matches in which he has scored 165 runs at an average of 23.57 to go with one half-century.

28-year-old Adam Wheather, who has played six matches, has been preferred over him. Michael Pepper is the backup keeper and has already represented the county in a couple of encounters. Foster has a truckload of experience in the domestic circuit. He made his first-class debut back in 2000 and his illustrious cricketing career has spanned a significant 18 years.

After retiring, he may take up full-time coaching. Over the last 12 months, he has worked with England, the Lions and the touring Windies and Pakistan sides. It was also learned that he was approached for Pakistan’s fielding coach as per reports in Cricbuzz. He is also set to join the Sydney Thunder in the next edition’s BBL and Afghanistan’s Boost Defenders in Abu Dhabi T20 event.

Foster’s career in brief

He has played 289 first-class, 223 List A and 179 T20s for his county and has notched 13,761, 3357 and 2158 runs respectively. Moreover, he was safe as houses as the keeper with 1164 catches and 174 stumpings. The 38-year-old also donned the national colours in seven Tests, 11 ODIs and five T20Is, however, was unable to turn up with impressive performances.

He made his international debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in 2001. A couple of months later, he forayed into Test cricket against India. His T20I career features five matches all of which was played in the 2009 World T20 in England. Foster was recently seen playing for Marylebone Cricket Club in the T20 triangular series, involving Nepal and Netherlands.

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