Who is Michael Slater, the Australian cricket great seeking bail from custody on domestic violence charges?

Michael Slater, the former Australian cricketer and well-known television commentator, has been in custody since April on serious domestic violence charges. The charges against Slater include assaulting and choking a woman, as well as sending her multiple abusive messages. Slater, who played 74 Test matches for Australia from 1993 to 2001, accumulating over 5,000 runs and 14 centuries, also featured in 42 One-Day Internationals before his retirement in 2004.

On Tuesday, Slater's legal team submitted a fresh bail application, emphasizing that he has secured a place in a residential rehabilitation facility in New South Wales. His barrister, Greg McGuire, argued that there is a significant risk that Slater "will have spent too much time in custody by the time the matter is disposed of." McGuire proposed several conditions for his client's bail, including relocating out of state, adhering to alcohol restrictions, and having no contact with the complainant.

Michael Slater is hit with a staggering number of new domestic violence charges
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Earlier this year, Slater experienced a health scare in court, collapsing in April after a Queensland magistrate denied his previous bail application. Supreme Court Justice Paul Freeburn had also rejected an earlier bail request, pointing to Slater¡¯s history of domestic violence and mental health challenges, which include ADHD, major depressive disorder, insomnia, alcohol use disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

Early life and sporting background of Michael Slater

Born on February 21, 1970, in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Michael Slater, affectionately known as ¡®Slats,¡¯ emerged as a prominent figure in Australian cricket. From a young age, Slater was surrounded by a family deeply involved in sports, which naturally led him to pursue various games during his childhood. His talent was evident early on, as he was selected for the state hockey team at the Under-12, Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 levels during his school years.

However, as Slater entered his teenage years, the demands of both cricket and hockey began to clash, forcing him to make a crucial decision. He chose to focus on cricket, eventually being appointed captain of the New South Wales Under-16 team. Although injuries briefly halted his cricketing journey, Slater made a strong comeback and earned a spot in the Under-19 state team for the national championships, setting the stage for his future success.

Rise of Michael Slater: from debut to peak performance

Before his international career took off, Slater was part of the Australian Cricket Academy and made his debut for New South Wales in 1991. His international Test debut came two years later, on June 3, 1993, against England during the Ashes tour of England.

Slater made an immediate impact, scoring a half-century in his debut match and following it up with a maiden century at Lord¡¯s. His form remained strong throughout the series and in subsequent matches.

Slater's ODI debut came on December 9, 1993, against South Africa, although his performance in One-Day Internationals did not mirror his Test success. However, he shone brightly in the 1994-1995 Ashes series, where he was the leading run-scorer with 623 runs.

He also registered his first double-century against Sri Lanka at the WACA in Perth during the following season. His career highlight in the 1998-1999 Ashes series was scoring a match-winning 123 runs against England, which accounted for 66.84% of his team's entire total.

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Career struggles and transition to commentary

Despite his successes, Slater¡¯s career was not without its challenges. He became known for his struggles with the "nervous nineties," having been dismissed in the nineties on nine occasions out of 23. His international career came to an end after he was dropped from the team following the 2001 Ashes series at The Oval.

Transitioning from playing to commentary, Slater joined Nine¡¯s Wide World of Sports cricket commentary team in January 2006. By 2009, he expanded his role, becoming a Sunday sports presenter for the Nine Network¡¯s Weekend Today, a position he held until 2010. Slater has since established a successful career as a commentator, continuing to be a part of Channel 9¡¯s commentary team.

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