Worcestershire wicket-keeper Ben Cox has been hailed as "one of the best young keepers I have ever seen" by Essex skipper and fellow gloveman James Foster after his performance in the LV = County Championship match between the sides at New Road.
Cox has made big strides forward with the gloves and the bat this season and pulled off two stunning leg-side stumpings against Foster's side in Worcestershire's 72 run win.
But he is keen to continue learning and improving and had a lengthy discussion with the highly-rated Foster on the players' balcony after the three day success.
Foster said: "I had a good 15 minute chat with Ben. I was so impressed with the way he went about his work during the three days of the Essex game.
"He was brilliant. He was outstanding and impressed not only me but a lot of guys in our changing room.
"I think consistently he was different class. I reckon he is one of the best young keepers I have ever seen. He was brilliant.
"Is that a good thing for England for the future? Definitely. He can bat as well. At the moment there are a lot of good young wicket-keepers out there.
"But if he keeps like that, that is absolutely world class.
"Cox has played in all five of Worcestershire's County Championship matches this season and scored a career best 89 in the win over Kent.
He has also looked sharp behind the stumps and been standing up with good effect to left armer Jack Shantry. He said: "I look at people like James Foster. In my eyes, and in a lot of people's eyes, he is the best glove man in the country.
"I asked him at the end if I could spend five minutes with him to pick his brains and he was happy to do that.
"When I was told what he had said about me I thought 'What a compliment that is from someone of his calibre.
"We chatted about drills that he does on training days, things I've struggled with in the past, and any pointers he had to help keep me calm in pressure situations. It was interesting he said to be careful of overtraining in practice and match days.
"He said to keep doing my board drills and glove work, feel good and just keep feeling confident- then everything will slot into place."
