Wheater made his first class debut in April 2008

Essex captain James Foster says batsman Adam Wheater is a 'serious talent', after his century in the County Championship win over Northamptonshire.

Wheater scored a career-high 164 in the second innings of the match, and shared a county record sixth-wicket partnership with Foster.

"He's a serious talent, a very natural sportsman," Foster told BBC Essex.

"He's got a very sound technique, so very good against the seamers and he plays spin very easily."

Wheater has played in the last five County Championship games for Essex, scoring 465 runs at an average of 51.67.

In addition to the 21-year-old's hundred against Northamptonshire, Wheater has hit three half-centuries, against Surrey, Middlesex and Gloucestershire.

And following the win over the Division Two league leaders, Foster believes the squad could now have gained the added confidence for the remainder of the season.

He added: "The win gives you that confidence, that belief. When you play matches in the key moments you feel like you are going to win them.

"Hopefully, we can take this through into our next County Championship game."

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