Cricket
Rachel Slater eager to play her part as Scotland target T20 World Cup
Should the weather gods continue to play ball, the Wildcats will next face Ireland today and then Zimbabwe on Tuesday in additional friendlies ahead of the start of the real stuff, the T20 World Cup Qualifier that gets underway against Uganda on Thursday.
That is one of the main drivers that have drawn Slater back to the international fold after playing just five times for club â the Northern Diamonds â and country in 2023. Scotland have never qualified for a World Cup and face an uphill battle to get through this one â only two of the 10 participating teams reach the finals â but Slater sees it as an opportunity.
âThis is the event in the calendar that everyone looks for,â says the Yorkshire-raised player who qualifies through her Scottish mum. âThere canât be many better feelings than getting to represent your country at a World Cup.
âWeâve played a decent amount of games since the last qualifiers so we feel in a good place as a squad. You canât think too much about the big picture, just take it game by game and play your cricket. If you think that the World Cup is on the line in every game then youâre putting too much pressure on yourself. Itâs important to take it game by game. But hopefully I can help the team get to a World Cup.â
There was a time last year when Slater wondered if she might ever play again at all. Dealing with ADHD â she spoke bravely and candidly about it towards the end of last year â and juggling the demands of professional sport, she stepped away from cricket for a a bit of a breather. It has been the mental reset she felt she needed.
âIâd do the same thing 100 times over,â confirms the 22-year-old. âTiming-wise I ended up missing half the season then got injured and missed the second half so I missed a year of cricket pretty much. But if I hadnât done that Iâm not sure if Iâd be here now or even still playing.
âThere are more important things in life than cricket. Weâre seen as cricketers but weâre people too and we canât go out and play cricket well if weâre not taking care of ourselves. It was for the better and Iâm glad I did it.
âWhen weâre away [on tour], itâs important just to be able to get away from cricket at times. Itâs difficult enough at home when youâre going back to your house every night but youâve got your friends away from cricket. When youâre on a tour youâre all together on the coach and back at the hotel and it can be cricket, cricket, cricket. Itâs just about having ways to get away from it at times, seeing the place youâre staying at and being able to relax with your teammates. Thatâs really important.â
Returning to the squad for the start of this busy if now weather-interrupted campaign in UAE felt like a reunion in a way but Slater doesnât feel like sheâs under any pressure to perform.
âItâs good to be back out here and with the team,â she adds. âI feel like Iâve not been with them for a while. I know what Iâm capable of and what I can bring to this team. I donât necessarily feel that I have to go out there and do anything different to what I know I can.
âI feel in a good place physically and mentally with my cricket. Iâm still confident. I donât feel like I need to prove myself to anyone. Itâs just a case of letting your cricket do the talking really.â
Born in New York as one of triplets and raised in Yorkshire, her Scottish roots have also been important from a young age thanks to her mum from Giffnock.
âYou probably canât tell by my accent!” she laughs. “But weâre pretty close to my mumâs side of the family. My cousin Mitchell [Rao] also got capped for Scotland a while ago so itâs something weâve always been aware of and close to. My family is really pleased that this opportunity has come about for me and Iâll try to make them proud.â