Wisden overview
Tall and slender, Neil Foster looked far too vulnerable to be a real fast bowler. The looks were not deceptive: he had terrifyingly complicated back trouble – he soon seemed more metal than man - and then nine knee operations before he finally waved the white flag. When fit, he was a lovely bowler, with a perfect-looking action that produced splendid outswing and the occasional nip-backer. His greatest moment came when he took 11 wickets for 163 to set up England's stunning win at Madras in 1984-85 but he only once played throughout a five-Test series, and his 29 Tests spanned 11 seasons – the last coming bizarrely in 1993, after a four-year gap (including a ban for touring South Africa). He was on the brink of retirement and the Test was at Lord's, where he always bowled badly. "Fozzy" played a major role in the Essex team that won five Championships in ten years and was popular with their supporters and with the press, who found his cheery argumentativeness endearing. Matthew Engel

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