By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (April 13^th 2025)

The All-rounder Sportsmen

Charles Burgess (CB) Fry was without doubt one of Britian’s greatest ever sportsmen, although his political beliefs towards the end of his life left more than a little to be desired (see Great Friends and Victims of Bernard Bosanquet Part Five which will be published here soon). He excelled in several sports but after he had completed his sporting career and assisted his friend (see below) at the League of Nations, Fry was at best naïve, but probably worse.

Fry was great friends with fellow Sussex and England cricketer, Prince Kumar Shri (KS) Ranjitsinhji. Not only was Fry a distinguished cricketer for Sussex and England – arguably his best sport – but he was an accomplished long-jumper too. Fry set a British record of 23 feet 5 inches in 1892. On March 4^th 1893 the US world-record holder, Charles Reber’s leap of 23 feet 6 and a half inches was matched by Fry – their world record was broken by Ireland’s John J Mooney in September 1894 with a leap of 23 feet 8 inches.

Fry also played football as a defender for Southampton and England – the Saints lost their first appearance in the FA Cup Final 4-0 to Bury in 1900. Two years later they lost a replay 1-2 to Sheffield United after a 1-1 draw in the first match. Fry was Southampton’s right back in that final. It proved to be third time lucky for Southampton – they beat Manchester United 1-0 in 1976.

Fry represented England at both cricket and football, although he only played football for England once against Ireland in March 1901 at Southampton’s home ground, the Dell. Also playing in that match was a young Worestershire cricketer and as it turned out, talented footballer. Reginald Foster was just 22 – he would turn 23 the following month at the time.

Foster played football for the famed Corinthians FC – four of his siblings also played for them. He also played for England five or six times (records were not great at that time).

He made his début for England against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on March 26^th 1900 – he played his last match against the same opposition.

Foster was a talented inside right, but despite playing well, he was dropped for the best part of a year. Meanwhile, he showed his talent, including against Aston Villa the league champions in 1899– Corinthians beat them 2-1. Foster scored once. They also beat Tottenham Hotspur, 3-0 – he scored in that match and he bagged a hat-trick in the 8-4 drubbing of Wolves in December 1900. He was dropped for the next match – the great Steve Bloomer played inside right for England. Although he scored, Scotland won easily, 4-1. There was a clamour for Foster’s return.

The Two-Sport Captains

On March 9^th 1901 two future England cricket captains played for England at football – Foster and Fry – against Ireland. Despite being reduced to ten men through injury – this was before substitutions, England won 3-0 at Southampton’s home ground, The Dell. Foster scored twice in the last ten minutes. Fry, at right-back was one and done – Foster wasn’t. On March 18^th 1901 England trounced Wales 6-0 at St James’ Park, Newcastle. Bloomer returned at inside right, scoring four. Ernie Needham scored once and Foster netted the other. On March 30^th 1901 England drew 2-2 against Scotland at the Crystal Palace in London. Foster again played inside left – Bloomer and outside left, Fred Blackburn scored for England. He played the last of his five matches for England – all in the Home Championships – against Wales on March 3^rd 1902 at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. It ended 0-0. Foster played at inside left and captained England. It was the last time he played for his country. He wasn’t yet 24. Foster continued to excel for Corinthians, but cricket was his main sport like Fry.

Foster only played eight Test Matches for England. He was unfortunate that he did not play against the Australians in 1902 – he emerged in 1901. By 1903 his international football career was over – instead he burst on to the international cricket scene in December 1903 at the First Test Match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He scored 287 out of a total of 577 all out in England’s first innings. Australia made 285 all out in the first innings and 485 all out in the second innings. England’s 194 for 5 in their second innings was enough to win by 5 wickets and give England a 1-0 lead in the 5-Tests series.

Monty Noble, captaining Australia for the first time made 133 in the first innings – his only Test Match Century. He played a pivotal role in sabotaging the aims of Aboriginal bowler, Jack Marsh to play for Australia. In the second innings the great Victor Trumper made 185 in a losing cause. Foster’s 287 remains the highest ever score made on début in Test cricket – 121 years and counting. Foster retired ill at 49 in the first innings of the Second Test Match at Melbourne – England won by 185 runs. Australia came back to win the Third Test Match at Adelaide by 216 runs thanks to centuries by Trumper and Syd Gregory. England won the Fourth Test Match at Sydney by 157 runs to clinch the Ashes with one to play. Australia won the Fifth Test Match by 218 runs.

Foster’s Swansong

Foster would only play another three Test Matches – his statistics were dominated by hi first innings in Test Match cricket. Bernard Bosanquet was also an integral part of that tour.

Bizarrely, Foster didn’t play for England again until 1907 – he captained the team in the three-Test Match series against South Africa. The first Test Match at Lord’s ended in a draw even though England had made South Africa follow on after making 428 all out in their first innings. The tourists were dismissed for 140 and made 185for 3 in their second innings. Fry opened the batting for England with Tom Hayward.

England won an extremely low-scoring Second Test Match in Leeds against South Africa by 53 runs despite making a paltry 76 all out in their first innings. In their second innings South Africa succumbed for 75 all out. In his last Test Match, the Third against South Africa, he made his next best score since his début, 51 out of 295 all out – Fry scored 129. South Africa responded with 178 all out in their first innings. Foster’s last innings for England was 35 – the top score out of 138 all out, setting the visitors a target of 256 to win and square the series. They reached 159 for 5. England won the series 1-0.

Foster never played another Test Match for England again. He died of diabetes aged just 36 – it was before the discovery of insulin as a treatment.