He had practised steadily, and felt confident, and was encouraged by Wal Jessop and Captain Fife. Will Brown wrote from Yanda, saying they were coming down in force to see him play, and Ben Brody added a postscript to the effect that the honour of the Yanda boys was in Edgar’s hands.
When the eventful day arrived Edgar’s feelings can be imagined. The match took place on the Association ground at Sydney, and the South Australians placed a formidable team on the field. Several men on either side were on their best mettle and playing for a place in the Australian eleven.
Ben Brody appeared on the ground resplendent in a new cabbage-tree hat, which he had bought in honour of the occasion. He was as anxious as anyone to see Edgar successful. Will Brown vowed if Edgar Foster went home with the team, he should go by the same boat. Will Henton, Harry Noke, and Jim Lee all came up from Yanda for the match, and consequently there was a family party on the ground. In Wal Jessop Ben Brody found a man after his own heart, and they got on well together.
Edgar felt encouraged by their presence to do his best, and something seemed to tell him he would succeed.
The New South Wales captain won the toss and elected to bat. This gave Edgar a chance to sit and chat with his friends. He hardly knew how popular he had become in Sydney, owing to his numerous adventures and his sterling character, until he saw the number of people who were only too proud to recognise him.
‘You must be a favourite with the ladies,’ said Ben Brody. ‘All the pretty girls are smiling at you. Lucky dog!’
It was true Edgar knew several nice girls, but he had not yet found one he preferred to any of the others. He thought there was time enough for that in another five or six years.
The home team commenced badly, and lost two wickets for thirty runs. At the fall of the fourth wicket Edgar Foster went in, and his appearance on the ground, from the pavilion, was the signal for a loud outburst of applause. As he walked to the crease Edgar vowed he would do his utmost to merit this reception. He was cool and collected, and had seldom felt so confident. He commenced well by making a couple of boundary hits in his first over. His partner, Frank Highdale, was well set, and the pair looked like making a big stand.
Edgar roused the spectators by hitting a ball into the pavilion, and Highdale had completely mastered the bowling. Runs came rapidly, and the South Australian captain seemed puzzled to know how to effect a separation.
Although Highdale had been batting some time before Edgar came in, the latter was first to reach the coveted fifty. When this number of runs appeared to Edgar’s name on the scoring-board, Ben Brody, to use his own expression, ‘broke loose.’ He cheered in the most frantic manner, and waved his huge hat in delight.