Wilf Slack

Wilfred Norris "Wilf" Slack (12 December 1954, Troumaca, St Vincent – 15 January 1989, Banjul, The Gambia) was an English cricketer, who played in three Test matches and two One Day Internationals for England in 1986.

A left-handed opening batsman, Slack was a victim of mysterious blackouts while playing, and died, apparently of a heart attack, while batting in The Gambia, aged just 34.

Early career

Slack's family migrated from the Windward Islands to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England when he was only 11 years old.

He spent time playing cricket for various local sides, progressing into the Buckinghamshire team in 1976, at the age of 21, becoming the minor county's leading run-scorer for the season, with 748. The then Middlesex coach, Don Bennett, marked him as first-class county material, and he was signed by them the next year.

Middlesex

Slack made his Middlesex debut in 1977, but failed to establish himself in the side, in part because he played out of position, in the middle order.

When Mike Brearley, Middlesex captain and batsman, was recalled to the England side in 1981, Slack was called on to replace Brearley and open the batting for Middlesex against Kent at Lord's; he scored his maiden first class...
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