It’s difficult to imagine a more topsy-turvy start to the Bob Willis Trophy than the one experienced by Ben Slater, as the opener gets ready to face Leicestershire - where he spent two weeks on loan - this weekend.
The left-hander is part of a 12-man Nottinghamshire squad, who are on their travels in the red-ball competition for the first time this summer.
After three competitive rounds, the left-hander is the leading run scorer in the competition.
Throw into the mix the fact that he’s played for two different counties, registered a pair and scored all of his runs against the same opposition, and it makes for a whirlwind few weeks for the Chesterfield-born opener.
Having not been selected for the Nottinghamshire squad for the opening match of the season, Slater was allowed to go on a two-week loan to spend time in the middle with Leicestershire.
His debut was to be against Lancashire, but with Old Trafford out of commission, the match was played at New Road, Worcester.
“It was a fairly hectic period,” revealed the 28-year old. “I’d played in the first pre-season match and not scored many runs. Then I was left out of the second and told I wouldn’t be in the squad for the start of the season.
“Obviously it was disappointing, but that’s sport, that’s the way it goes. It’s never nice not to be in the team, especially having worked so hard during the winter and in pre-season.
“Luckily, I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I think Paul Nixon (Leicestershire’s Head Coach) spoke to Peter Moores and I was asked if I fancied going to play for them,” he said.
“Peter gave me the choice of whether I wanted to go or not and I snapped his hand off. I don’t think you can afford to turn down opportunities in life, you never know where they could lead. It’s better to be playing than spending the weekend either training or playing club cricket.
“I was told about the move on the Thursday, trained at Grace Road on the Friday and then travelled to Worcester.
“Fortunately, I know a few of their lads. Tom Taylor, Will Davis and Callum Parkinson had all been with me at Derbyshire and I think they had put in a good word about me. They helped make it a little easier to get settled and I really enjoyed the two weeks with them.”
By the close of play on the second day, Slater had completed a debut century for the Foxes, his sixth in First-Class cricket. The following morning, he was told to ‘have some fun and push on’ and he sailed past 150 for the first time in his career before being dismissed for 172.
“There were a couple of shots that stand out,” he said. “Back to back sixes off Tom Bailey, in particular, the second of which hit one of the top windows of the hotel.”
Cricket has often thrown up a twist or two at the most unlikely of times and Slater was to experience one of his own as, a week later, his Foxes’ home debut brought him down to earth with a bump.
Playing against his former side, Derbyshire, he failed to score in either innings.
“You just can’t write it, can you?” he exclaimed. “Second time around I thought ‘just get in and get yourself a score, it’s a good wicket’ but it didn’t happen. My first pair in First-Class cricket. I’d gone from the best week of my career to perhaps the worst.”
Recalled by Notts, the opener’s first match back at Trent Bridge just happened to be against Lancashire, a coincidence that was noted by one or two in the Red Rose camp.
“There were a few comments from the Lancashire lads on the first day,” he recalled.
“When we walked out, Dane Vilas said, “Oh no, not you again” and Graham Onions (who was on the ground, although not playing) told me I was their nemesis.”
Slater dominated the early scoring, making 50 out of the opening partnership of 78 with Haseeb Hameed, but reached his century only four balls before Ben Duckett also brought up three figures.
“It was obviously the first time I’d batted with Haseeb and there was no real plan to how I started. It just unfolded that way and then later in the day I think they bowled better to me and gave Ducky some scoring opportunities,” he remarked.
“I didn’t actually think it was that easy and at tea, when we were both in the 90s. We told the rest of them not to be fooled by the score.”
His innings eventually ended on 142.
“I wouldn’t say it was a massive relief to get to my hundred, but it was a very nice feeling,” he added.
“I never really doubted myself, but it was so weird how everyone struggled last year.
“I got a hundred at Cambridge, then made 76 against Yorkshire and got a few runs at the start of the Royal London. Then I had my quad injury and never got my form back at all after that.”
Lancashire may be pleased they won’t face Slater again this week. He’s scored 339 runs against them in only three innings, and currently sits on top of the Bob Willis Trophy run-scoring chart.
Even with his unwanted pair, he boasts an average of 67.8 for the season, ahead of what promises to be another unusual occurrence this coming weekend.
Notts head to the Fischer County Ground for their first red ball match there in three years. It will, however, be a swift return for one of their number.
“It might be a little strange at first, going back to Leicester having been in their dressing room last week,” reflected Slater.
“But then I’ve just got to get on with it and score runs. I’ve certainly not got any hang-ups about playing there again so soon after making a pair, but we’ll have to see.”
He plays down how much inside information can be gleaned from his two weeks in the opposition camp. “The analysts do so much nowadays I don’t think I can add too much to what they already know. We’ll know as much as we need to about them and they’ll be aware of where they want to bowl to me, I’m sure.”
Nottinghamshire travel to the Fischer County Ground to face Leicestershire in the Bob Willis Trophy from Saturday 22 August to Tuesday 25 August 2020.
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