BRUCE French is already credited with transforming the career of one England wicketkeeper and after working closely with the guru; Essex's Ben Foakes can see why.
French, who played 16 Tests between 1986-88, began working with Matt Prior after he was dropped by England in 2008 and transformed him into one of the finest wicketkeeper-batsman going.
Foakes' own situation is also unique with the 20-year-old barely picking up the gloves during the English summer as he focused on establishing himself as a county batsman while James Foster kept wicket.
However, England have made no secret of their admiration for the youngster's talents with Foakes called up to the Performance Programme squad for the tour of Australia.
And while team-mate Jos Buttler and then Ashes back-up Jonny Bairstow have been behind the stumps during the side's two tour matches, Foakes has still taken the chance to dust off his gloves.
"For big chunks of the summer I just didn't touch my gloves and it was something I struggled with," said Foakes.
"But to be able to get out here, I can feel my keeping coming on a lot again, it's obviously beneficial to me so I've just got make sure I do as much as possible.
"Bruce French did the first few days with Matt Prior and Jonny Bairstow and then he came to us and was with us until the end.
"I've done a fair bit, with him before, on the programme last year, on the Lions trip, and whenever we're at Loughborough and he also comes down to Essex.
"Before I met him I heard how good of a coach he was, but being able to work with him I can understand that for myself.
"Every time I work with him I see how much my keeping improves so you can see how he's done it with the likes of Prior.
"It is brilliant to be able to make use of that and I've just got to try and do as much as I can to help me out as much as possible.
"I've got a goal in my head of wanting to take over Prior's position at the back end of his career and there are some really good keepers out there.
"There's, Jos and Jonny and I know if I'm going to get past them I'm going to have to work extremely hard."
Last summer was Foakes' first full season as a county player and while his average of 35.50 may not have stood him out from the crowd, his 98 on Championship debut in 2012 and 120 against Leicestershire in July served notice of his talents.
Yet to challenge Prior's position Foakes knows something has to give, admitting he needs to be regularly stationed behind the stumps if he is to bridge the gap to the senior set-up.
"I guess next season I will be playing as batter again and trying to not let my keeping drop off," added Foakes, who made 65 in the drawn match against Queensland Second XI.
"Not being able to keep is difficult because your keeping doesn't really go anywhere. It is difficult but I'll have to find some way round it. I can't go two or three years not keeping then expect to be a Test level keeper – I've got to put in the effort.
"You've got to say he [Foster] has got the best gloves in the world so he's a difficult person to get past, I've just got to make sure I can work as hard as I can in practice and hopefully that will be enough."
Follow the England Performance Programme squad and their progress this winter at www.ecb.co.uk/epp
