Michael Slater, the former Australian Test batter and commentator has reportedly been dumped by Channel 7 ahead of 2021/22 summer of cricket.
The Australian former opener has served on Channel 7’s commentary team since the free-to-air broadcaster secured the cricket rights in 2018, but he has reportedly failed to win a new deal this year.
Michael Slater Dumped As Commentator For Channel 7 This Summer
Channel 7 decided not to renew the 51-year-old’s contract due to budgetary restraints. Lewis Martin, who is the head of sport in Channel 7 stated that Michael Slater’s contract not being renewed has nothing to do with his tweet against the Australian PM, but was a prudent business decision.
“Unfortunately business decisions have to be made from time to time and unfortunately we’re not in a position to renew it (Slater’s contract),” Channel 7 Head of Sport Lewis Martin said in a statement.
Michael Slater’s infamous public challenging of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this year at least partly contributed to his Channel 7 exit. Back in May, Michael Slater unloaded on the Prime Minister following the Australian government’s decision to block citizens from returning home from India.
Slater tweeted at the time: “If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!”
“Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect. And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It’s called empathy. If only our government had some!”
The controversial outburst reportedly did not sit comfortably with fellow cricketers or Channel 7 executives. Michael Slater had hit out at Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May this year as the Australian cricketers had to spend 2 weeks in the Maldives after the suspension of the first half of the 14th edition of the IPL.
Michael Slater Was In India In The First Half Of IPL 2021 But Had To Leave For Maldives When IPL Was Hit By Covid-19 As Australia Had A Travel Ban
Scott Morrison responded by saying it was “absurd” for Michael Slater to accuse him of having “blood” on his hands. Michael Slater played 74 Tests and 42 one-day internationals for Australia, scoring 6299 runs and 14 centuries. Before joining Channel 7’s team three years ago, Michael Slater worked alongside Richie Benaud and Bill Lawry as part of the Channel 9 commentary team.
Former Australia cricketer Michael Slater was in India as part of the commentary panel for the first half of IPL 2021 but had left for the Maldives and awaited there for the travel ban to end. He branded the ban on Australians trying to return home as a ‘disgrace’ on Twitter. However, Scott Morrison defended the ban.
Michael Slater played 74 Tests and 42 ODIs for the Australian cricket team. While he scored 5312 runs in the whites, the right-handed batsman amassed 987 runs in ODI cricket. The current 51-year-old played his last international match for the Australian side in August 2001, against the England side at Headingley.