He was once an Ashes hero, but the decline of Michael Slater has taken another turn with the former Australian Test opener officially stripped of his NSW Cricket honours.
During an ordinary general meeting of NSW Cricket on Monday night, the 55-year-old’s life membership was cancelled as was his place in the NSW Cricket hall of fame following a board-proposed motion, as reported in The Age.
Slater was convicted in 2022 of domestic violence offences and earlier this year was sentenced in the Maroochydore District Court after pleading guilty to a range of charges including assault, strangulation, burglary and stalking.
‘It’s obvious Mr Slater that you are an alcoholic’
Sentencing the former Test star to four years’ imprisonment, partly suspended for five years, Judge Glen Cash linked Slater’s behaviour to a long-time battle with alcoholism.
“It’s obvious Mr Slater that you are an alcoholic, regrettably your alcoholism has brought an end to your profession.”
Slater made his Australian debut on the 1993 Ashes Tour to England and was inducted into the Cricket NSW hall of fame in 2015 after a career that included 74 Tests and 42 one-day internationals.
He retired from international cricket in 2001.