Disgraced former Australian Test cricketer Michael Slater has been stripped of his Cricket NSW life membership, following his conviction for domestic violence offences. The 55-year-old was voted out as a life member on Monday night, despite submitting a letter to Cricket NSW arguing to retain the honour, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Slater had already been removed from the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame. He became the organization's 229th life member in 2016. The decision to revoke his life membership came after the conclusion of his legal case, in which he pleaded guilty to seven charges, including two counts of choking a woman.
In April this year, Slater was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, partially suspended after time served. He had spent more than 12 months in custody and made multiple failed bail attempts. The remainder of his sentence is suspended for five years, during which he risks being returned to custody if he commits another serious offence.
Slater also pleaded guilty to a drink and drug driving offence in Maroochydore Magistrates Court following his domestic violence sentencing. Supreme Court Justice Paul Freeburn noted Slater's long history of mental health conditions and diagnoses including alcohol use disorder. Defence barrister Gregory McGuire described Slater as being "in the grip of a terrible alcohol addiction."
Slater, who debuted during the 1993 Ashes tour, played 74 Tests for Australia, scoring 5312 runs at an average of 42.83 with 14 centuries. He retired from cricket in 2004 and became a television commentator. In 2022, a NSW magistrate convicted Slater of common assault, breaching a restraining order, and two other offences against a woman.
