An extract from Wikipedia about the life and career of Wilf Slack
Slack’s family migrated from the Windward Island to High Wycombe in Buchinghamshire, England when he was only 11 years old.
He spent time playing cricket for various local sides, progressing into the Buchinghamshire 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
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 century, 181 not out.
He was a left-handed opener and played county cricket for Middlesex between 1977 and 1988. He also played for his native Windward Islands in the West Indies domestic competition between 1981-82 and 1982-83.
The opening stand of 367 by Slack and his partner Graham Barlow was a Middlesex record. In the following game he made 248 not out, against Worchestershire. He finished the season with 1,303 Championship runs at 48.25.
In 1985 he bettered his effort of four years earlier by making 1,900 runs at 54.28, and was rewarded with a tour of Sri Lanka with the England B Side
Whilst in Sri Lanka, Slack was rushed to the West Indies during the England 1985-86 tour to replace the injured Mike Gatting. Slack made just two runs in two innings of his Test debut at Port-of Spain. As a result he was dropped for the next two Tests, but return in the Fifth Test to make a tidy 52, partnering Graham Gooch in an opening stand of 127.
His third and final Test came at Headingley against India in 1986. He again failed to impress but had a successful county season by topping 1,000 runs once more. This won him a place in the England squad for the Ashes tour of Australia in 1986-87. He did not play a Test in the series, and was never again picked for England.
During the 1988 English cricket season, Slack suffered a number of blackouts on the field or in the nets, but exhaustive test had failed to identify the cause. One such incident, witnessed by Mickey Stewart, took place during a net session in Tasmania during the 1986-87 England tour of Australia.
One Minute I looked and he was fine and the next minute he had passed out and we had to rush him to hospital. There was no indication that what he was suffering from was life-threatening.
He died at the age of 34, when he collapsed during a game in Gambia
A popular figure in the game. His Wisden obituary commented on the response to his death.
He was particularly popular among fellow-cricketers, who spoke feelingly of their respect and sorrow when he died. He was mourned, too, in New Zealand, where he coached in five English winters. Slack was buried in his prized England Blazer, bat at his side, and as the funeral cortege drove past Lord’s, the Grace gates bore a sign reading “Farewell Wild”.
He finished his 237 first-class career with 13,950 runs at 38.96, including 25 centuries.
In a tribute to their former player, Middlesex renamed one of their outlying grounds in honour of Slack.
The former Barnet Council Ground in East End Road Finchley was in 1995, renamed the “The Wilf Slack Ground. Finchley’. Middlesex play second X1 and Minor county matches at the ground. In same year Middlesex also introduced ECG testing for players during pre-season medicals.
