Slack says he can stand the pace

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 28

Slack says he can stand the pace

NZFA-Reuter London The opening batsman, WIH Slack, summoned to join the England cricket team in the West Indies to replace the injured Mike Gatting, yesterday declared himself ready and eager to face the fearsome West Indian pace.attack. “I’ve waited a long time. It may be my only chance, and I want to make the most of it,”

said Slack, called from the England B team in Sri Lanka to replace Gatting.

Slack, a Middlesex team-mate of Gatting, ar-

rived from Sri Lanka yesterday, and is expected to leave for the West Indies tomorrow. “I’m looking forward to the next few weeks,” the St Vincent-born lefthander said. “I feel confident, not worried by the prospect. Their bowling reputation doesn’t bother me too much. They have been hitting people for a long time now.

“I still believe England have a chance in the series. They have come from behind before.”

Slack, who left St Vincent as a youngster, said

his only regret was that his chance came from the injury to Gatting, his county captain who was struck on the face by a bouncer from Malcolm Marshall in the opening one-day match last week. Slack was considered unlucky not to have been picked for the team, after scoring 1960 first class runs last summer, at an average of over 54. He has scored freely in Sri Lanka, making 431 in • 10 first class innings, and hit an undefeated century in the last one-day international.

He last played cricket

in the West Indies for the Windward Islands in 1981

“rm going to have to make some adjustments to my technique after the flat pitches in Sri Lanka, but some practice in the nets should sort that out,” he said.