00:00A competitive and whole-hearted cricketer, Michael Slater was known for his fearless and
00:05attacking style at the top of the order.
00:08Always eager to take the ballers on, Michael Slater brought energy and intent every time
00:13he walked out to open the inning for Australia.
00:16His stroke play was adventurous, yet calculated and he played some memorable knocks that set
00:21the tone for many Australian victories.
00:24One such outstanding innings came against Pakistan in the first test at Rawalpindi.
00:29Back in October 1998, in testing subcontinent conditions where the ball was gripping and
00:35the ballers had the edge, Michael Slater stood tall and delivered a gritty century.
00:40He scored a solid 108 runs, facing 238 balls and spending 298 minutes at the crease.
00:48It was an innings of patience, concentration and a mental toughness, qualities that are
00:52crucial for any successful test opener.
00:55Michael Slater's knock was not just about survival, it was about building a foundation.
01:00He struck 12 crisp fours and a one clean six, picking the right deliveries to put away.
01:05His strike rate of 45.37 might not sound quick by the modern standards, but in the context
01:12of the match, it was exactly what Australia needed.
01:15He sucked up the pressure saw of the new ball and slowly turned the tide in Australia's favour.
01:21For Cricket Award, this 100 is a moment worth revisiting, a fine blend of class, courage and determination
01:27from a player who always wore his heart on his sleeve.
01:31I'll hit the left wing.
01:32I'm so excited.
01:33For Cricket Award, this is a sport that really was in the middle of class.
01:35Here is the top 10 with a bikini.
01:36I have the best results in the back of the title.
01:37My bad guy behind the back of the wall, Thiago Slater.
01:38The special night have the best results.
01:39When the yourself was in the back of the Centre, the course was in the back of the
01:54street.
01:55The classic one was in the middle of the street.
01:57Oh
01:59Oh
02:01Oh
02:03Oh
02:05After
02:073
02:092
02:112
02:135
02:155
02:175
02:196
02:217
02:238
02:258
02:29He has a very good wrist action
02:33He is obviously the more tighter
02:35and he has
02:37caught him away, 2 runs
02:39He probably looks for the stars
02:41but they decide against him
02:43Hame thesis kip likal ke
02:45Dhanil ke
02:47Chief therefore bomb was the scene
02:49and there are plenty of battle
02:51in that
02:533
02:553
02:573
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03:115
03:135
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04:197
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04:279
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06:00and that is also his 50, a well played 50 by Michael Slater.
06:07A very fine ball.
06:15But at no stage of innings, from the first ball till now, Michael Slater
06:20is playing a very fine confident innings.
06:24At no stage was in trouble whatsoever.
06:30And that's the late cut.
06:33They get two.
06:37Catch it!
06:40But four runs straight away.
06:42First ball, off the tee.
06:45Down the wicket goes Slater and bang, four runs.
06:51That is, Umar, what you said is now correct.
06:54The first ball, he tried to make it a volley, didn't do it,
06:57but still played his shot, although it is absolutely safe.
07:00Bang again, four runs.
07:05This is a much better shot.
07:07In fact, this is the sixth.
07:08Yes, this is the sixth.
07:10Hurbly hit.
07:11Often that you see a sixth hit to extra cover.
07:14Very rare.
07:15Very rare.
07:16A very difficult shot.
07:17Last time I saw one hit was by uh...
07:23Richard.
07:24It is easy to hit towards mid half and mid-on.
07:25Long off, but extra cover is a very difficult shot.
07:27That is a superb hit.
07:29This time there will be at least three if the ball doesn't get to the rope.
07:45It's slowing down but it does cross the rope right now and that's four more to Australia.
07:52We'll move on to 182 for three and later on to 93.
08:00You know in a situation like this again the approach should be again on one side I thought a fast bowler particularly of the quality of Matima comes
08:13and on the other side the spinner that would do much better than having two spinners on both the ends.
08:19The narrowest 90s as they call it.
08:27And this time he's got him away.
08:29Will he get his 100?
08:30He will.
08:31He's going to cross the rope and it does so now that Slater's 100.
08:34A very fine inning by Slater.
08:36One is Australia will require him to stay there and get the rounds which he's done.
08:42The blight and the Australian just moved in the court.
08:45Twill with the public on the second day on the first best match and Australia's first match.
08:51Remember he got 100 here at the same round in the last series.
08:55So well done Slater.
08:57A very fine inning by Slater.
09:01When he came in he showed his class to the first ball that he played.
09:06Paring the time that he was close to 100 I think the innings that he played is an indication that he is a class player indeed.
09:18He played in ming which showed both aggression and difference.
09:23And the way he's running he knows the ball is going towards the boundary.
09:27There it is.
09:28He knew he would cross the rope and look at the thrill.
09:32Well he indeed deserves all this and that is why he got big gap.
09:39This will get him at least two as Amaswe gets to it now.
09:51Two more to Slater.
09:56And there he is.
09:58Taking up a wicket.
10:00Slater coming down the wicket.
10:02Trying to push him into the tower region straight to the fielder there.
10:06So that is the break key the Pakistan skipper was looking for.
10:10226 for four.
10:13And Slater walking back to the pavilion.
10:16And Mahmoud's land strikes for Parkwood.
10:18Mahmoud's land tossing it up.
10:20So the town down.
10:21The pitch drives uppishly.
10:24Is that Mahmoud to the sea?
10:28It is the same mistake that was made by a young other Mahmoud.
10:34Facing a quality Pakistan attack, which included fastballers and spinners skilled at exploiting
10:44home condition.
10:45Michael Slater inning was a brilliant example of how to bat with control and compoyer.
10:50He mixed solid defense with calculated aggression, never letting the ballers dictate terms for
10:56too long.
10:57Born in New South Wales, Michael Slater made his test debut in 1993 and quickly became one
11:03of the most entertaining openers in world cricket.
11:06With the high back lift and quick footwork, he had all the tools to take on both pace and spin.
11:12Whether it was a cut shot off the back foot or a lofty drive down the ground, his strokes
11:17were always pleasing to the eye.
11:19This 100 against Pakistan was a fine example of how an opener should play in testing condition.
11:25It shows Slater's growth as the best man, combining aggression with patience and flair
11:30with focus.
11:31Over his career, Michael Slater played 74 test matches, scoring over 5,000 runs at an average
11:37of close to 43.
11:38With 14 centuries to his name, he may have had his ups and downs, but when he got going,
11:44there were few batter sides in world cricket.
11:47Michael Slater was not just a cricketer, he was an entertainer at the Currys.
11:52His raw energy, aggressive intent and passion for the games made him a fan favorite.
11:57That 100 at Rawalpindi in 1998 was just one of many innings where he proved his worth as
12:03a true test opener.
12:04For lovers of classic test cricket, Slater's innings are always worth a watch.
12:08So, next time you talk about great Australian openers, don't forget the man who brought
12:13fair, fight and fire, that is Michael Slater.
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