Foster 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.[2]
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.[3] He returned to first-class cricket in 1903, but never again played more than a handful of games in a season. From July 1908 he was employed by the Birmingham-based glassmaking company of Chance Brothers,[4] which might explain his only very moderate success with the bat. His last match was in 1911 against Middlesex.
Other sports
In addition to his cricketing accomplishments, Foster was a fine rackets player, winning the Public Schools racquets championship with his brother, H. K. Foster, in 1892[5] and the Amateur Doubles Championship on two occasions.[3]
^Chance, James Frederick (1919). A History of the Firm of Chance Brothers. London: Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd. pp. 125–126.
^Milward, Laurence Sidney and Bullock, Edward Clifford (1905) The Malvern Register (1865–1904). Printed and published at the office of the Malvern Advertiser
