James Foster will have plenty of spare time this winter… 

The ECB have today announced the fifteen man squad to take on India in this winter’s test series and yet again there was no place for Essex’s wicketkeeper-batsman James Foster. England’s current gloveman Tim Ambrose averaged just sixteen with the bat against South Africa but has been given the nod regardless of inept batting displays. Matt Prior has been named as the second expert wicketkeeper, thereby ignoring his consistently poor performances behind the stumps for England, repeatedly shelling catches at crucial moments.     

Foster meanwhile is regarded as the most technically proficient gloveman of England’s wicketkeepers and averaged over fifty for his county this season. It seems the ECB have been scarred by the Darren Pattinson debacle and are no longer willing to make the brave decisions required. While Foster watches his fellow countrymen toiling in India from the comfort of his living room, England will once more be wishing that their only outstanding wicketkeeper-batsman was somewhat closer to the action. Oh dear.