Ben Foakes is a highly skilled English wicketkeeper-batsman with over 7,000 first-class runs and standout debut performances for England.
Ben Foakes is an accomplished English cricketer who specializes as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Born on February 15, 1993, in Colchester, Essex, he emerged from the county’s youth system before moving to Surrey in 2015. Despite making his Test debut for England in 2018 by scoring a century against Sri Lanka in Galle—only the fifth Englishman to achieve this feat abroad—he often found himself overshadowed by other glovemen in the early stages of his international career. His first-class record underscores his reliability, with more than 7,000 runs at an average exceeding 40 and over 300 dismissals. Notably, his exceptional catch-to-stumping ratio ranks among the finest in English county cricket history. Benjamin Thomas Foakes, born on February 15, 1993, in Colchester, Essex, is a professional cricketer recognized for his dual role as a wicketkeeper and batsman. Regarded as one of the most technically proficient and dependable keepers in modern cricket, he attended Tendring Technology College in Essex. He began his professional journey with Essex before transitioning to Surrey in 2015. Primarily representing England in Test cricket, Foakes delivered a memorable debut on November 6, 2018, against Sri Lanka in Galle, where he scored a century. His One-Day International and T20 International debuts followed in May 2019, first against Ireland and later against Pakistan. Former England captain Alec Stewart has publicly praised Foakes, describing him as the best wicketkeeper in the world. As of 2025, he continued to play Test cricket for England and competed domestically for Surrey, with prior experience at Essex, England Lions, MCC, and other teams. His estimated net worth falls between $2 million and $5 million. Foakes maintains a low profile regarding his personal life, including his religious beliefs, though it is generally believed he follows Christianity. Raised in Essex, England, he comes from a sports-oriented family. His late father, Peter Foakes, was a respected Premier League football referee who officiated 21 top-flight matches and handled high-pressure fixtures. Peter passed away in 2006 when Ben was just 13 years old. In his honor, Foakes has a tattoo on his wrist bearing the date of his father’s passing, 18.09.06. His mother, Fiona Foakes, has worked with young cricketers at Essex County Cricket Club, mentoring academy players on academic pressures, career decisions, and the emotional challenges of pursuing professional sport. When Ben scored a century on his Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2018, she humorously admitted to being a “bumbling wreck” while arranging travel to meet him. Ben has one older brother, Matt, with whom he played cricket at their local club, Frinton-on-Sea. Matt also pursued cricket at the club level, representing teams such as Bowdon and Frinton-on-Sea. Ben Foakes does not have any sisters. As of now, Ben Foakes has not created official accounts on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), or Facebook. Any updates regarding the creation of such accounts will be provided promptly. Although unofficial fan pages exist under his name on social media, he remains absent from official platforms. During his international career, Ben Foakes wore the jersey number 50 for England. In domestic cricket, his number has varied, with both 4 and 7 appearing depending on the competition. Ben Foakes has kept his personal life largely out of the public eye, but it is known that he has been in a long-term relationship with Lynsey Wilson. Lynsey, who hails from Scotland, is a psychology graduate from the University of Aberdeen and currently serves as Director of Client Services at a relationship consultancy in London. The couple has been together for over five years, though they have shared few details about how they met or the start of their relationship. Ben Foakes’ professional career began within the Essex setup before he moved to Surrey in 2015 in search of greater opportunities behind the stumps. His breakthrough came in November 2018 during England’s tour of Sri Lanka, when he was called up as cover following an injury to Jonny Bairstow. He responded emphatically, scoring 107 on debut in Galle—a performance that made him only the second England wicketkeeper to score a Test century on debut. His wicketkeeping during that series on turning pitches earned widespread acclaim. In May 2019, he made his ODI debut against Ireland, contributing an unbeaten 61 to guide England to victory and earning the Player of the Match award. Across formats, Ben Foakes has played 25 Test matches for England, batting 46 times and accumulating just over 1,100 runs at an average of 29.2, including two centuries and four half-centuries, with a highest score of 113 not out. Behind the stumps, he has claimed nearly 70 catches and executed 10 stumpings. While his opportunities in limited-overs cricket have been limited, he made a strong impression in his sole ODI appearance. His single T20I did not include batting. In domestic T20 cricket, Ben Foakes has featured in 74 Vitality Blast matches for Essex and Surrey, scoring 835 runs in 50 innings at a top score of 75 not out. Though his average of 21.4 is modest, his role often involves batting lower down the order in pressure situations. He maintains a strike rate of 124 and has registered four half-centuries. His wicketkeeping is widely regarded as elite in county cricket, with 37 catches and 10 stumpings to his name. In 2012, Ben Foakes distinguished himself as England’s leading run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup. His Test debut in November 2018 was nothing short of spectacular; he scored a brilliant 107, becoming just the second England wicketkeeper to achieve a century on debut. Days later, he continued his fine form in ODIs with an unbeaten 61 on debut, earning the Player of the Match award. That year, he was named Man of the Series in England’s Test series win over Sri Lanka. In 2023, he received a prestigious accolade when Wisden honored him as one of their Five Cricketers of the Year. He reached another milestone in 2024 by becoming only the 12th England wicketkeeper to accumulate 1,000 Test runs. As of 2026, Ben Foakes is 33 years old, having been born on February 15, 1993. Ben Foakes has been in a committed relationship with Lynsey Wilson, a professional based in Scotland, for several years. What is Ben Foakes’ net worth and salary? Ben Foakes’ net worth is estimated to range between $2 million and $5 million. What are Ben Foakes’ career achievements? In 2023, he was named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. In 2024, he became the 12th England wicketkeeper to reach 1,000 Test runs. All images are used for editorial purposes only. Licensed solely via Getty/Source.