Michael Slater has Cricket NSW life membership revoked

Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater has had his life membership and hall of fame status at Cricket NSW revoked following domestic violence offences.

This masthead can reveal the 55-year-old is no longer a life member of Cricket NSW after being voted out during an ordinary general meeting on Monday evening.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter confirmed that members and delegates endorsed a board-proposed motion to strip Slater of the honour.

They made the decision despite Slater making a written submission to CNSW arguing why he should keep his life membership.

Slater was convicted in 2022 of domestic violence offences against women. Since 2016, five NSW women have taken out protection orders against him.

In Queensland, Slater was sentenced in the Maroochydore District Court in April after pleading guilty to seven charges, including two counts of choking a woman.

In sentencing, Judge Glen Cash had pointed to Slater’s history of alcoholism as a key to his behaviour.

“It’s obvious, Mr Slater, that you are an alcoholic,” Cash told the court.

“Regrettably, your alcoholism has brought an end to your profession.

“Your rehabilitation will not be easy – alcoholism is part of your make-up.”

He was inducted into the Cricket NSW hall of fame in 2015 after a glittering career that included 74 Tests, 42 one-day internationals and 216 first-class matches for NSW and Australia.

Slater made his Test debut at Old Trafford in 1993 in the same match Shane Warne bowled his “ball of the century” to Mike Gatting.

He formed a productive opening partnership with his NSW and Australia teammate Mark Taylor, who went on to captain Australia.

Following his last Test match in 2001, when he was dropped from the side during an Ashes tour, Slater took up a career in broadcast commentary in Australia and the UK, most recently with Seven.

Slater joined the network when it won free-to-air rights to cover the game in Australia in 2018, but did not have his contract extended in 2021.

In 2016, Slater was awarded Cricket NSW life membership. This masthead has been told Slater’s hall of fame status had already been rescinded before Monday’s meeting.

Life members of CNSW include Taylor, Belinda Clark, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Lisa Sthalekar, Mark and Steve Waugh, Simon Katich, Greg Matthews and Geoff Lawson.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.