JAMES Foster has already achieved a lot in his career - and he's not finished yet.

The Essex wicket-keeper has played seven Test matches and 11 One-Day Internationals for England, scored more than 7,000 runs and collected well over 500 dismissals.

Last season, the 27-year-old was named vice-captain of the county of his birth and this month he has launched his own coaching clinic for aspiring young cricketers.

Echosport's ROB PRITCHARD spoke to Foster about his dreams of leading Essex to success, his international prospects and England's upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

2007 was an up and down season for Essex and yourself.

You were made vice-captain of the team, missed out on promotion in the County Championship and struggled in one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

How are you and new captain Mark Pettini shaping things up for 2008?

JF - "The whole relationship between myself, Mark and (coach) Paul (Grayson) is excellent.

"We all played together in the second eleven and know each other really well. We're singing from the same hymn sheet.

"With us, it's not a case of one person saying one thing and one saying the other.

"We all pretty much have the same ideas about the direction we want to go.

"I'm extremely excited about next season.

"Last season was very challenging. We had the heart of our team ripped out with Ronnie (Irani) and Andy (Flower) retiring and (Alastair Cook) Cookie and Ravi Bopara playing for England .

"With Darren Gough also leaving over the winter it meant we were without five of our best players for most of the season.

"The exciting thing about next year is that we're really highly motivated and want to do well.

"It's up to us to take on the responsibility of scoring the runs that Ronnie and Andy scored and taking the wickets that Darren did, especially in one-day cricket.

"It's up to us to take that challenge on."

"We all want to win cricket matches.

"One of our massive goals, as it has been, is to be promoted in four-day cricket.

"I believe we would have been close last season if we'd had Andy and Ronnie - they'd have made a massive difference.

"But even without them, we're not far away.

"Cricket is about fine lines and we were on the wrong side of them too many times."

Essex have made three new signings for next season so far in Jason Gallian, David Masters and Chris Wright.

What do you make of them?

JF - "We have made some really canny signings.

"Jason Gallian has had a great career with England, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire and brings so much to the table. We're very excited to have him.

"David Masters has had a phenomenal three or four seasons.

"He blew teams away last season, picked up loads of wickets, has great confidence and feels like he really knows his game.

"Chris Wright is a young, exciting prospect.

"I remember playing against him for Cambridge University and thinking how quick he was bowling.

"I'm not sure if the door is closed (on more signings) but it's got to be the right person for us to sign them - someone we feel is going to fit in with our team."

Captain Mark Pettini had an indifferent 2007 season with the bat and will drop down from opening to the middle order next season.

How is he feeling about that change and his team's prospects for next summer?

JF - "Mark is very excited and confident about next season.

"He had a lot on his plate last summer. A lot goes on behind the scenes that people don't realise.

"He took on a lot of responsibility when he took the captaincy.

"He's going out to Australia to play this winter and is a quality player.

"Mark was a middle order batsman before he played for Essex and only started opening the batting when we had other people missing.

"Being captain is so mentally draining and takes a lot out of you, so he feels more comfortable in the middle order."

Two of your county team-mates, Ravi Bopara and Alastair Cook, are part of the England Test squad for next month's tour to Sri Lanka.

How do you think they will get on?

JF - "I'm totally confident that Ravi and Ala-stair will do well in Sri Lanka as they are both seriously talented guys.

"They have come through the Essex system and have performed so well.

"Hopefully Ravi will get a chance to play but Cookie is already an established star.

"I read somewhere that he's the fastest batsman in Test history to get to 1,500 runs .

"It will be an exceptionally tough series as Sri Lanka are a quality team and will have Muttiah Muralitharan back in their side.

"But the way England prepare they will not leave any stone unturned.

"They've got a great chance of winning over there as they showed in the one-day series."

And what about your own England prospects? Do you still harbour hopes of adding to the caps you have already won?

JF - "Like I've always said. If I keep working hard at my own game and keep making runs and taking catches for Essex and England come calling again, then I'll be available.

"I'm only 27 so I've certainly not given up hope just yet.

"The fact England have chosen not to give a central contract to a wicket-keeper means that the position is not set in stone."

Finally, Essex have a young wicket-keeper called Adam Wheater who looks like a future star.

What do you make of him?

JF - "He's a very exciting prospect and he's only 17. He can bat and keep wicket exceptionally well.

"We've been working together over the last couple of years and the future certainly looks bright at the wicket-keeping position.

"It's certainly going to keep me on my toes, but I'm still confident in my own ability and I'm not planning on handing over the gloves just yet."