Foster stays calm after call-ups

James Foster has learnt to be patient. It is more than six years since he last played for England so he isn't getting too carried away after enjoying week in which he was named in the preliminary Twenty20 party and the performance squad.

The England wicketkeeping merry-go-round has been spinning again this winter with three glovemen - Matt Prior, Tim Ambrose and Steven Davies - used at various times. But Foster's name has always been close to many people's lips, especially when it comes to one-day cricket, after a couple of impressively consistent seasons for Essex.

With Prior still looking uncomfortable in the limited-overs set-up the door is ajar for Foster, but he isn't getting too far ahead of himself. "It was a pleasant surprise to be honest," he said. "I had no idea these squads were being announced so I'm just really pleased to be back in the frame. But I'm fully aware it doesn't mean I'll be playing cricket for England."

Foster won't believe he has broken through again until he pulls on an England shirt for the first time since he faced Australia, in Melbourne, on the 2002-03 Ashes tour. He was a late injury replacement for Alec Stewart who then promptly regained his place, and when Stewart retired in 2003 the gauntlets went firstly to Chris Read and then Geraint Jones with Foster left on the outside.

It could have been very different for Foster except for a cruel piece of luck early in the 2002 season. He was handed a central contract after being the man in possession during the previous winter tours of India and New Zealand. However, while preparing in the nets at Essex, his arm was broken by team-mate seamer Andy Clark and Stewart jumped back in. Foster, though, has learnt not to dwell on his misfortune and just concentrate on his own performances.

"From that last England experience I always thought I may have got back in a little sooner," he said. "You always do because you feel you can offer something. Of course, it's disappointing but over the last few years I've just got on playing cricket for Essex. I've thrown myself into that and disassociated myself with the England thing."

He opted to have surgery on a troublesome shoulder after being overlooked for all England's winter squads, a decision he took with his long-term interests at heart, but is now ready for the domestic season with Essex. "I thought that if I didn't get selected for anything it was an ideal time to get it sorted. If I didn't get it done this winter it was going to be an ongoing problem and I couldn't do any physical training."

Dialogue between Foster and the selectors has been two-way during his six-year gap but getting back among two large squads is just the first step. "I've had chats with selectors, them phoning me and me phoning them to find out what the vibe is. They have always been very positive when they spoke to me and have given me direction which is what you want.

"We've had three keepers play for England this winter and they are in these squads so you'd probably say those guys are in front of me. All I can say it's a long season and a lot can happen."

If Foster does earn a place in an England side this summer the chances are that he will have Andy Flower, his former Essex team-mate, as his head coach. Flower is the frontrunner to take the top job, but Foster doesn't believe that will have an impact on his fortunes.

"I don't know what is happening with Andy with regards the full job," Foster said. "All I can comment on is from my experiences when we were team-mates at Essex. He was a great person to learn off. If he does become England coach there are plenty of other keepers out there. Yes, I know Andy, but that means nothing."