Fostershire

‘Fostershire’ was a name jocularly applied to Worcestershire County Cricket Club in the early part of the 20th century, shortly after the county had achieved first-class status and admission into the English County Championship (in 1899). The name came from the fact that seven brothers from the Foster family played for Worcestershire during this period, three of whom captained the club at some point. Their father was the Rev. Henry Foster (1844–1933), who taught at Malvern College.^[1] He married in 1871 Sophia Mary Harper, daughter of Samuel Harper of Upper Tooting, of Lloyd's of London.^[2][3]

The full list, with Worcestershire careers in brackets is: Basil Samuel (1902–11), Geoffrey Norman (1903–14), Henry Knollys (’Harry’) (1899–1925), Maurice Kirshaw (1908–34), Neville John Acland (1914–23), Reginald Erskine (’Tip’) (1899–1912) and Wilfrid Lionel (’Bill’) (1899–1911).

On only two occasions did four of the brothers play in a first-class match together.^[4] In both cases the brothers involved were Geoffrey, Harry, Tip and Wilfrid. The matches, both in August 1905, were against the Australians at Worcester^[5] and against Somerset at Taunton.^[6]

Against Hampshire in July 1899,^[7] Bill (who scored 140 and 172 not out) and Tip (134 and 101 not out) both scored their maiden first-class centuries in the first innings, and became the first pair of brothers to score two separate centuries each in the same first-class match. This feat has since been emulated by Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell in a Test match in 1974,^[8] but remains unique in county cricket.

Against Kent in 1905,^[9] Tip (246 not out), Harry (86) and Geoffrey (54) combined to lead Worcestershire to a club record total of 627 for 9 declared. The following year against Warwickshire,^[10] Harry (124) and Tip (35) contributed to a team total of 633, a club record which would not be surpassed until 1995.^[11]