Wilfrid Foster

Major Wilfrid Lionel Foster CBE DSO (2 December 1874 – 22 March 1958) was an English cricketer: a right-handed batsman who played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club in their early years in first-class cricket. He was one of the seven Foster brothers, all of whom played first-class cricket for the county. Foster also appeared for MCC and the Gentlemen.

Born in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, like his brothers Foster was educated at Malvern College before going to the Royal Military Academy and being commissioned into the Royal Artillery. He made his first-class debut for Worcestershire in 1899, 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. His last match was in 1911 against Middlesex. He won the DSO in World War I.

As well as his cricketing accomplishments, Foster was a fine rackets player, winning the Public Schools raquets championship with his brother, H. K. Foster, in 1892 and the Amateur Doubles Championship on two occasions. Foster died at the age of 83 in Ryton Grove, near Shifnal, Staffordshire.