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Slater announces retirement
Australian batsman Michael Slater today announced his retirement from all cricket.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:04 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Sydney: Australian batsman Michael Slater today announced his retirement from all cricket, bringing down curtains on a career, which saw him amass 5,312 Test runs and set a record opening partnership with former captain Mark Taylor. The 34-year-old player, undergoing treatment for a rare form of arthritis, played just three domestic first-class matches for New South Wales last season. "The decision has been a painful one, a very tough one given that I still have the desire to play and believe that I still have a lot to offer New South Wales," said Slater. The right-handed opener, popular for his breathtaking strokeplay, was a key member of the Aussie side that won 16 consecutive Test matches from 1999 to 2001. In 78 opening stands, Slater and Taylor put up a combined 3,887 Test runs at an average of 51 runs per partnership. The Australian pair was second in the Test rankings for openers behind West Indian greats Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, who amassed 6,482 runs while batting together in 148 innings. Slater made his Test debut against England in 1993 and was dropped in 2001 after scoring 21 and 16 in a six-wicket loss in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. He was replaced by Justin Langer, who has held his spot at the top alongwith Matthew Hayden ever since. Slater scored 5,312 Test runs at an average of 42.8, including 14 centuries, and accumulated almost 15,000 runs in first-class cricket. His highest score was 219 against Sri Lanka in 1995-96 in Perth. (PTI)
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