The Ashes hero whom time forgot

Stephen Brenkley recounts the story of England and Warwickshire bowler Frank Foster in the Independent, who was an England star 100 years ago but died penniless in a psychiatric hospital.

From cricketer of genius, who pioneered leg-theory bowling, led Warwickshire to their first County Championship title and played a key role in a legendary Ashes series victory, the rest of Foster's life was catastrophic. He died in a psychiatric hospital alone and touched by madness.

He was an undischarged bankrupt who had consorted with prostitutes and been implicated in the murder of one; he was estranged completely from his family and the prosperous high-street clothing store chain they ran; he had no friends in cricket; he probably had no friends in the world.