Neil Foster, one of English cricket's greatest strike bowlers, is returning to Essex.

Back to Essex - Neil Foster

The 39-year-old Wivenhoe-born paceman, hero of 430 First Class and one-day games for Essex and England between 1980-93, is teaming up again with his former captain Graham Gooch as a part-time bowling coach at the County Ground this winter.

He is the latest of new head coach Gooch's inspired appointments following hard on the heels of another "old Essex favourite" John Stephenson, who is returning from Hampshire to become the county's second team captain and coach.

Foster, who hit the national headlines when summoned from Colchester's Philip Morant School to make his Essex first class debut against Kent at Ilford in 1980, replaces former Surrey and England paceman Geoff Arnold.

A key member of 29 Tests and 48 one-day internationals for England, Foster said today: "I have always wanted to be involved and I made contact with the county when I heard Geoff was leaving.

Neil Foster celebrating back in the Essex glory days

"My role is only on a part-time basis, but I gained a wealth of experience during my career with Essex and England and feel that I still have a lot to offer."

Foster still has one year of his physiotherapy studies to run and is currently gaining experience in the outpatients department of an Ipswich hospital.

He added: "Graham (Gooch) wants the bowlers to stand on their own two feet more rather than relying too heavily on the day-to-day involvement of the coaches.

"I will be heavily involved throughout the winter months and with the county's preparations and pre-and-early-season activities next year.

"I'm glad to be back and I really fancy my chances. I have a lot of different ideas and I'm very keen to help Graham rekindle a team spirit that will make the county successful again."

Essex skipper Ronnie Irani is excited by Foster's return. He said: "Fozzie is an Essex man through and through and that's great by me.

"He's been there and done it all and he'll bring even more expertise to the county in his particular field as one of the country's finest fast bowlers.

Published Thursday November 29, 2001