Michael Slater

From Freepedia

Michael Jonathon Slater (21 February, 1970– ) (known by fans and professionals as "Slats" ) was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales and was an opening batsman for the Australian Cricket Team .

Michael went to the Australian Cricket Academy before appearing for New South Wales in the 1991/92 Sheffield Shield (now known as the Pura Cup) season. He made fast progress to the Australian Test Team being selected for the Ashes Tour to England in 1993. He made his first century in the Lords Test and celebrated by kissing the Australian Badge on his helmet. He was generally known for his swashbuckling style of play. Between 1993 and 2001, in 74 Test matches he scored 5,312 Test Match runs and 14 centuries at an average of 42. He opened the batting in Australia's unbeaten streak team between 1999 and 2001. Surprisingly he wasn't as successful in the shorter One-day International form of the game appearing 42 times with an average of 24.

His career fell apart during 2001. Against the backdrop of a marriage breakdown, he showed increased emotion on the field. During a Test Match in Mumbai, India, against India, Slater claimed to have caught a diving catch off a mistimed pull-shot by Indian batsman Rahul Dravid. Both Dravid and the umpire were unconvinced, and Dravid stood his ground. Slater was incensed and angrily confronted both the umpire and Dravid. TV replays showed that it was unlikely that Slater cleanly caught the ball. Later, during the Ashes tour, Slater was dropped from the team, apparently due to missing a training session. Justin Langer replaced him, and after making three consecutive centuries, cemented his position as the opener.

Slater was also the subject of false rumours that he was the father of his teammate Adam Gilchrist's son.

Slater played in the English County Championship with Derbyshire in the 1990s. He is now a radio commentator with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.