End Of An Era As Cumbria Cricket Captain Michael Slack Retires
Michael Slack has brought his 13 year Cumbria cricket career to an end after 88 appearances for the county, stepping down from the captaincy to spend more time with his family and continue playing for his home club, Carlisle.
Slack's final appearance came at Netherfield Cricket Club against Bedfordshire, where Cumbria secured a 37 run victory. After a rain affected match, Slack scored 88 runs and shared a record breaking 201 run fifth wicket partnership with vice captain Matthew Sempill, before taking the final wicket himself to seal the win.
The 36 year old finished his county career with 2,630 runs across all formats at a combined average of 28.27, while also taking 123 wickets and 58 catches. His 58 wickets in the trophy remain a Cumbria record, while his remarkable bowling figures of 7 for 22 are still the county's best performance in the competition.
Slack said the decision to retire had been influenced partly by his body becoming increasingly difficult to manage over recent seasons, but also by a desire to spend more weekends with his family. He will continue playing club cricket for Carlisle while stepping away from the demands of county cricket.
The former captain came close to reaching a century on several occasions during his career. His highest championship score was 96, while he recorded 95 in the trophy and an unbeaten 87 in T20 cricket, leaving the elusive three figure score as one of the few achievements missing from his county record.
His final match provided an appropriate ending despite the absence of that milestone. Slack scored 88 from 178 balls and spent more than three hours at the crease, before returning with the ball late in the match and taking the wicket that confirmed Cumbria's victory.
Alongside his batting, Slack established himself as one of Cumbria's most effective all rounders with the ball. His 123 county wickets included 54 in the championship, 58 in the trophy and nine in T20 matches, demonstrating his importance across different formats during his time with the side.
Slack's sporting career also extended beyond cricket. He spent part of his youth in the Carlisle United academy before playing for Carlisle City, but eventually decided to concentrate on cricket after suffering another knee injury while playing football.
Looking ahead, Slack intends to remain with Carlisle Cricket Club, where he hopes to help build on the club's recent promotion to the Northern Premier Cricket League. He described Carlisle as his home club and said he would like to continue playing there for several more years.
The former captain also praised Matthew Sempill, who is set to take over the Cumbria captaincy. Slack highlighted Sempill's contribution during his own time as captain, particularly while the county side dealt with injuries, and backed him to lead the team successfully.
Slack believes Cumbria remain in a strong position despite his departure from the county set up. He pointed to the quality available within the squad and the progress of the under 18 side, which has reached a national final, as evidence of the depth coming through the county system.
His departure brings an end to more than a decade of county cricket, during which he became one of Cumbria's leading all rounders and a significant figure within the local cricket community. His final performance against Bedfordshire provided a fitting conclusion, with both bat and ball contributing to a memorable victory.
Cumbria will now move forward under new captain Matthew Sempill, while Slack will continue his playing career at Carlisle and remain involved in the local cricket scene. His county record leaves him among the most productive players to represent Cumbria across the modern era.
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