It is now official – disgraced former cricketer Michael Slater‘s name will be wiped from history in his home city.
Wagga Wagga City Councillors have voted in favour of changing the name of Michael Slater Oval.
The honour for the former Test batter was unveiled in 2014. The oval is part of the city’s Bolton Park sporting complex.
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Fellow Wagga products and former international cricketers Mark Taylor and Geoff Lawson also have ovals named in their honour in Wagga Wagga – colloquially dubbed “the city of good sports” for its history of producing top athletes.
But Michael Slater Oval will be no more after councillors voted 4-3 in favour of changing the name.
Michael Slater has had his named off an oval in Wagga Wagga. Nine
The oval will be renamed and the council will reportedly garner public advice on what the new name should be.
The three councillors who voted in favour of keeping the name argued Slater’s criminal record should not overwrite his feats on the cricket field.
Rod Kendall outlined Slater’s “diagnosed medical mental health issue” as a reason for keeping the oval name.
But the other four councillors wanted Slater’s name wiped after the 54-year-old was last month refused bail by a Sunshine Coast court as he faces 19 charges relating to domestic violence.
Among the charges are allegations of unlawful stalking or intimidation, breaking into a dwelling with intent at night, common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and choking or suffocation.
Slater remains behind bars and is due to face court again on Friday.
Earlier this month councillor Jenny McKinnon posted a photo of the Michael Slater Oval sign, where someone had painted over the cricketer’s name.
Former cricketer Michael Slater leaves Manly Police Station in 2021. Dominic Lorrimer
“I’ve urged Council to change the name of this oval as a matter of urgency,” McKinnon wrote on Facebook.
“Glad to see that someone (maybe Council?) has taken some stealth action.”
At a meeting last year councillor Dan Hayes called for the oval to be renamed following allegations against Slater.
“I want to look at ways in which we could be replacing that name with someone more deserving,” Hayes said in August.
“Someone without criminal charges”
Slater made his Test debut for Australia during the 1993 Ashes.
He amassed 5312 Test runs in 74 matches and partnered Taylor at the top of the batting order for a number of years.