Rachel, our Queen of Scots who is World Cup bound
Rachel Slater, a left-arm swing bowler with an extremely high ceiling, has a fascinating back story in that she is a Scottish international who was raised in Leeds and therefore qualifies for England. Added to that, she was also born in New York State and could have played internationally for the USA.
At present, she is starring for Scotland and is set to play for them at this summer’s T20 World Cup in England. Potentially at Headingley as well.
Slater, who signed on with Yorkshire for three years ahead of 2025, was awarded a full-time contract with the Northern Diamonds ahead of 2022, describing it as a “dream come true”. Now, the journey continues with her home county.
Slater’s progression has been disrupted by injury, mainly ankle issues. She was sidelined for much of 2023, for example, and again for large parts of the 2025 summer because of a broken wrist suffered on pre-season tour.
But she enjoyed a memorable 2024, capped by appearing for Scotland at the T20 World Cup in the UAE in October. Slater also impressed for the Northern Diamonds and featured for the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.
The 24-year-old starred to get Scotland to the World Cup, claiming 11 wickets in six matches – more than any other bowler in the tournament – at the ICC’s Global Qualifiers event in Abu Dhabi in April. She went on to strike twice in four matches at the World Cup.
The left-arm quick had made her senior Diamonds’ debut in late 2021 and her international debut for Scotland against Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur in January of 2022, at the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers. She qualifies through her Scottish-born mother.
Slater has played for Yorkshire from age-group through to senior cricket.
She took a stunning 6-7 in an Under 17s game versus Staffordshire in 2019, a fixture in which she was captaining the county.
In September 2024, Slater, batting at number 11, memorably helped the Northern Diamonds to a superb one-wicket Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy win over Southern Vipers at Headingley with a nerveless 18 not out as they chased down a 240-target.
Ahead of 2026, Slater helped Scotland qualify for the summer T20 World Cup by contributing seven wickets in their successful qualifying campaign in Nepal.
UPDATED: Feb 2026.
