Michael Slater Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics

Michael Slater is an Australian cricket commentator and former professional cricketer who had represented the country in 74 test matches, scoring 5,312 runs at a stellar average of 42.83, as an opening batsman. In a test match career that had spanned from June 1993 to August 2001, he had established himself at the top of a strong Australian batting order that had laid the foundations for the country’s global dominance in the format which had started in 1995 and extended into the late 2000s, a few years after his international retirement. He was renowned for his aggressive strokeplay and audacious front-foot pull shots.

Born Name

Michael Jonathon Slater

Nick Name

Slats, Sybil

Sun Sign

Pisces

Born Place

Wagga Wagga, Riverina, New South Wales, Australia

Residence

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Nationality

Occupation

Cricket Commentator, Professional Cricketer (Retired)

Family

• Father – Peter Slater (Former Lecturer)
• Mother – Carole Slater
• Siblings – Julian Slater (Older Brother), Tracey Slater (Older Sister). He has one other younger sibling.

Batting

Right-Handed

Bowling

Right-Arm Medium

Role

Opening Batsman

Build

Athletic

Height

5 ft 9 in or 175 cm

Weight

67 kg or 147.5 lbs

Girlfriend / Spouse

Michael has dated –

1. Stephanie – Michael was married to his childhood sweetheart Stephanie through the 1990s. The couple had parted ways by the end of the decade when he was battling a slump in form as well as manic depression bipolar disorder. Stephanie had traveled to England in 2001, during the Australian cricket team’s tour of the country, hopeful of reconciling with Michael. However, things did not work out as it was difficult for him to focus on personal issues in the midst of a tour. Matters worsened on the professional front as he was dropped midway from the test series due to a string of low scores with the bat. The series eventually became his last international assignment with the Australian team.
2. Jo Slater (2005–Present) – Michael had started dating a yoga teacher and personal trainer named Jo in 2005 and the couple got married a few years later. They have 3 children together – 2 daughters and a son named Jack Slater (b. 2006).

Race / Ethnicity

White

He is of English descent.

Hair Color

Salt-and-Pepper

Eye Color

Blue

Sexual Orientation

Straight

Distinctive Features

• Toned physique
• Short-cropped hair
• Affable smile
• Clean-shaven look
• Has the image of a lion tattooed on his left arm
• Has another tattoo on his right arm

Michael Slater Facts

1. In 1966, 4 years before his birth, Michael’s parents and both his older siblings had emigrated to Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, by boat from the north-eastern coast of England.
2. In his test match career, he was dismissed 9 times in the ‘Nervous 90s’ (any score ranging from 90 to 99 runs). As of May 2021, he was tied with Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid at 2nd place in this list, only behind the great Sachin Tendulkar who had suffered this unwanted fate 10 times. Michael’s misery is made worse by the fact that he had suffered these dismissals in just 74 test matches compared to Dravid’s 164 and Tendulkar’s 200.
3. In the Sydney test match of the 1998–99 Ashes series, his match-winning score of 123 runs had amounted to 66.84% of his team’s total score of 184 runs. As of May 2021, this was the 2nd-highest contribution by a batsman in a completed team inning.
4. The record was set by Charles Bannerman of Australia who had scored 165 runs not out in his team’s total of 245 runs (67.34%) in the first batting innings of the very first test match that was played in March 1877, in Melbourne, between Australia and England. Although practically not as insurmountable as some other major cricketing feats, it is often talked about by cricket fans, due to its longevity (144 years as of May 2021), as a record that would perhaps remain standing for eternity.
5. Michael was very close to breaking this record but narrowly missed out. When he was the 8th man dismissed in Australia’s 2nd innings in the aforementioned match, his contribution to the team’s total was 68.33% (123 runs out of the team score of 180 runs). Had the last 2 wickets (9th and 10th) fallen by the score of 182, he would have achieved the record with 67.58%. However, unfortunately for him, the team’s total extended to 184 runs and his contribution came down to 66.84%.
6. Between December 1993 and May 1997, he had also played 42 ODI matches for Australia and was part of the Australian squad that had reached the final of the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup.
7. On the domestic front, he had represented New South Wales (1991–2004) in Australia; and Derbyshire County Cricket Club (1998–1999) in England.
8. After his retirement from the sport, he has worked extensively as a commentator and TV analyst, covering several international tournaments and T20 franchise leagues around the world.

Featured Image by Michael Slater / Instagram