NickiSlater's Slats Topic

[commonwombat]

Do agree with Donny's point re airing unsubstantiated matters. Will say in response to Dyso's comments that his purported incidence of boorish behavior by Slater bears striking similarity to his public behavior in Sydney. Some have hit the media, I have witnessed a few personally including at matches that I have umpired.

I have stated my piece re Slater and with all due respect do wish to withdraw from the discussion.

[NickiSlater]

Great posts Donny really well said as usual! A lot of people seem to think Slats is a prick yet on the number of times I have met him he was absolutely WONDERFUL to me a true gentleman who went out of his way to make me happy! I know what the guys will say now it's only because Im a girl! Anyway hopefully Slats can get some runs on the board soon so we can stop this discussion that he's a prick and I can just argue how wonderful he is instead!

[Donny]

I wondered what this was about when I heard bits about it at the time but, as I thought then, it was probably a beat up so didn't get too interested.

The below article is Gilly recounting the events that almost ruined his friendship with Slats. It's from his book, 'Walking to Victory'.

Gilly played his early cricket in my district so I have a particular interest in his career.

I think you'll all find this a good read and another reminder of the pressures of being a celebrity and the damage that can be done by passing on hearsay and rumours.

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Hearsay and heartache
October 25, 2003 - Cricinfo

Gilly writes:

"When a vicious email spread around the world, attacking not only me, but the integrity of my wife and a teammate, the pressure of being a high-profile athlete was almost unbearable, writes Adam Gilchrist in a new book.

I don't envy the selectors' job. During the Ashes series in England two years ago, as a selector on tour, I was involved in one of the toughest decisions I'd ever had to make - the dropping of opening batsman Michael Slater.

Since then, we'd all seen the results. A lot of things hadn't gone well for Slats and it wasn't easy now to look back, knowing that we'd played a part in altering his life so much. The trauma of it still bothered me.

Anyway, it was all going to come out now, because in the days before the Adelaide Test against England last summer, we were due to shoot a television commercial together. It would be the first time we'd caught up since that England tour. We had a lot to talk about.

Like any player who is dropped, Slats took it pretty hard. What made matters worse was the public scrutiny his every action was under, particularly in his personal life. There was also talk that our friendship had been stretched because I was a selector on tour.

Through the next Australian summer, 2001-02, our paths didn't really cross. We rang each other once or twice, but it was never the right time to discuss anything in great depth. So, the talk started playing on my mind. Like when I was in hospital [with an infected elbow], it's amazing what your mind will have you believe if you let it. Slats and I have always been great mates, stemming back to junior cricket in NSW country, but not seeing him for so long, the doubts started to fester.

Then, in about March 2002, someone drew a connection between Slats being dropped and my withdrawal from a one-day international in Sydney to be with Mel soon after the birth of our first child, Harrison. This heartless person - and to this day I wouldn't have a clue who it was or why they did it - posted their theory on a website called Cricket365, alleging an involvement between Slats and my wife, and questioning Harrison's paternity. The email got passed around at an unbelievable rate and it seemed that everyone had read it or heard about it by the time I was first made aware of it.

I was touring South Africa with the Australian team when my manager and close friend, Stephen Atkinson, rang me early one morning and told me the news. I felt sick in the stomach. It was the start of the toughest period in my life. Mel was at home with three-month-old Harry, so we couldn't even be there for each other.

Whatever I suffered, it was many times worse for Mel - having her integrity abused like that when she's not even a public figure. She had trouble sleeping, and it made those early days of motherhood - spent almost as a single mother - so much more difficult. Thankfully, Mel's mum, Carol, flew to Perth to help her through it.

We also have a wonderful group of family and friends who always seem to be there for us in tough times. The strength that Mel showed in shutting out the pain and remaining totally committed to our little boy was extraordinary. What hurt me the most was hearing and feeling just how much it was hurting her. We spent long nights on the phone, totally helpless. It was the worst time.

Upon reflection, it was such a ridiculous rumour that we should have been able to laugh it off; but when you're living it, it cuts deep into your heart. What made it even worst was that it involved Slats. I already had this perception that there might have been friction between us. He and I discussed the email on the phone, but we never had a chance to catch up and talk about the other matters.

My emotional rollercoaster came to a climax during the first Test. The email had made it to South Africa and there were banners at the ground that made reference to it. Sections of the crowd yelled out abusive taunts about Slats, Mel and me.

Somehow, I was able to shut it out and score a century in the first innings. I was then totally overcome with a wave of emotion and thoughts only of Mel and Harry; about all the drama they had endured as a result of being my wife and my child. I felt so sorry for them, and yet I was proud of Mel and Harry, and of the fantastic support group around them that kept us going. I was also proud of my teammates and grateful for their solid support.

On reaching my ton, I didn't know whether to jump for joy or give a determined "up yours" to the crowd and whoever it was that had started the rumour. In the end, I had no control over my reaction. I simply ran off the wicket, raised my bat to acknowledge the team and the support staff, felt the emotions bubble up and squatted with my head down. It was the first time I remember crying on a cricket field.

Mel and I launched a legal action against Cricket365. We mentioned our intentions to Slats. I mean, it was Mel and him who had been most seriously defamed in all this. But he declined the option of joining the suit. Atkinson handled the legal side of things, because I was still trying to play Test cricket.

Cricket365 settled quickly. They had no choice. What had happened was that a young employee of theirs had picked up this email off their notice board, decided it looked interesting and shot it out to all of their subscribers via the website's newsletter. That was how the rumour spread so quickly and why they were so culpable.

Over the following months, I wondered why Slats hadn't joined us in the legal action, so that was one of the things I wanted to discuss with him in Adelaide this day. We filmed the advertisement and then, walking back from the ground to the hotel, we dived into it and opened right up.

We talked about the email and the damage it had done to all of us. He told me he'd had a lot going on in his life at the time. He was in and out of the NSW team. He was getting a lot of negative press coverage. He didn't need any more on his plate. But now, nine months later, his life had settled down. He asked about our legal team and seemed keen to pursue the matter.

As we strolled back to the hotel, it really felt like I was closing that chapter of my life. However, I was still worried about where our friendship stood after the selection business. Slats made it pretty clear that most of the trouble there was in my mind.

He admitted that for a while he had been very disappointed with Steve Waugh and me.

He had found it hard to understand how it was all meant to gel together; we were such close friends, but suddenly we were passing judgement on his career.

He quickly stressed that he now had no problem with it and didn't bear any grudge. He was aware of "talk" around that I was pissed off with him also, so it seemed that we had both just worried about the rumours, instead of finding out the truth and moving on.

We must have made quite a sight for the curious folk of Adelaide, slowing to a dawdle, deep in open and honest conversation. But it was a huge relief. We knocked the issues on the head and got them out of our lives for good.

We really did have a strong friendship, and still do now. So, it's pleasing to have come out the other side."

 Adam Gilchrist has played 47 Tests and 171 one-day internationals for Australia. Born and raised in NSW, he lives in Perth with his wife Mel and son Harrison.

[piedys]

Donny,
Do we presume Toonumbar is local to Lismore, where Gilly is generally credited as hailing from?

dyso

[Donny]

Yes, mate. Lismore is the next town towards the coast.

Adam's father, Stan, runs a sporting goods business over there and I have dealt with him quite a bit and played against Adam and his brother, way back.

[Blanch]

Great read from Gilly.

[couragous cloke]

NickiSlater... maybe your extreamly hot or something.. lol im tired

[Donny]

Care to run that by us again, Ant ?

[NickiSlater]

Thanks for posting that Donny really appreciate it. I actually received the e-mail that is refered to in the article and didn't believe it for a second but had no idea on how much damage it had caused.

Couragous cloke that must be the reason!

I hope all the trouble for Slats is over now, I have seen him a few nights this week on Sports Tonight looking mighty fine too!

[Donny]

How many pins did you stick in the Alfie doll last night, Nicki ??
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Langer struggles
November 4, 2003

TEST opener Justin Langer continued his run of outs when he was dismissed for only four runs on the opening day of the Pura Cup match against NSW at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The WA captain – coming off scores of 26, two and eight in two Tests against Zimbabwe, and 11 and 15 in the ING Cup – won the toss this morning but didn't survive long enough to rediscover any form.

He scratched around for 23 balls, edging Matthew Nicholson to Greg Mail at gully.

Nicholson, playing his first Pura Cup game for the Blues after switching from WA, had already taken the wicket of Mike Hussey for a duck with the fifth ball of the day.

Hussey was trapped lbw without playing a shot.

Nicholson had 2-5 from his first four overs, finishing his opening six-over spell with 2-8.

Former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin and Marcus North steadied the WA ship after coming together at 2-11, with Goodwin going to lunch on 37 and North on 20.

[Donny]

A century would have been better, Nicki, but 45 wasn't too bad.

I suppose you weren't too impressed with who caught him.

[commonwombat]

maybe Nicki should reinvest in new higher quality voodoo dolls.

[piedys]

[NickiSlater]

LoL @ everyone! Donny I agree that a century would have been better for Slats but 45 isn't too bad wish I could have seen how he played! Langer being in terrible form makes up for it though! GO SLATS!

[Donny]

Message from commonwombat:

Nicki, you'd better buy a better quality voodoo doll or reread that chapter on curses.
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he's an animal, what can u expect!!!