Enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame when he was called into the England squad for the tours to India and Sri Lanka in 2001/02 following just a handful of Championship appearances. After missing a large part of the 2002 domestic season due to injury, Foster continued his international experience in Australia when he featured in the Melbourne Test in December of the same year. Returned to regular county action in 2003 when he was given an opportunity higher up the batting order. Preparations for 2004 went well as he scored a century for the MCC against Sussex at Lord’s before adding three Championship tons that summer for Essex. Runs and catches aplenty followed in 2005 and 2006 as he continued to advance his claims for an international recall, with his performances in the latter campaign earning him the Quintessence Design Essex website Player of the Year. Foster’s return to England colours belatedly arrived after the 2007 season when he was called up to the England Lions squad to tour India as a replacement for the injured Steven Davies. The Essex stumper’s place in the MCC team to play Sussex at the start of the 2008 season indicates he is still in the thoughts of the England selectors.