Michael Slater will take inspiration from the example of Justin Langer, the man who replaced him, as he attempts to rebuild his shattered cricket career.

Adrian Warren19-Feb-2002Michael Slater will take inspiration from the example of Justin Langer, the man who replaced him, as he attempts to rebuild his shattered cricket career.Slater spoke publicly about his future today for the first time since being dropped from the NSW team four weeks ago, announcing the start of a comeback trail he hoped would lead to state and Test team recalls.It will be a difficult path for the 74-Test veteran whose media conference followed a new low point when he swore at reporters watching his club comeback at the weekend.But Slater drew encouragement from the return of Langer who replaced him for the fifth Ashes Test last year at age 30 – having been dropped at the start of theseries – and hasn’t looked back.”I think it’s a strong chance that things can turn around very quickly. There’s enough examples of that and at 32 I don’t think I’m over the hill,” Slater said.”If I look at the opportunity that Justin Langer received on the last Ashes tour, he thought he wasn’t going to play a Test match maybe ever again, but … he got his opportunity and … look what he’s doing now.”Slater said he regarded Langer and Test opening partner Matthew Hayden as great mates and agreed if they maintained their recent hot form it would be verydifficult to regain his place.With NSW having just two more Pura Cup games, Slater said “it may be a long shot to get back in” but he held out hope of playing in the final match in Hobart.Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said no action would be taken against Slater over the weekend incident following his apology yesterday.”Michael has expressed his regret for the situation, we’ve accepted that. It takes a big man to say sorry and I think it should be treated in that view,” Gilbert said.Slater said disappointment and the initial shock of being forced to retire his innings with a cut eye from a rising delivery had contributed to his outburst.”I couldn’t believe I was walking off with the cut over my eye and that was the way the innings was going to finish when there was so much expectation and I’d been pumping myself up for a few days.”Gilbert said Slater remained “very, very important” in the Blues’ mid to long-term plans.While rumours have circulated about a possible interstate move, Slater pledged his support to his home state.”This is where I would like to finish my career,” said Slater who described himself as a “Bluebagger through and through.”Slater, who averaged just over 25 in first class matches before being dropped, admitted his form had been up and down but was convinced one big club inningswould turn things around.”I think in my effort to get that big score I’ve been trying too hard, it’s simple as that.”Slater, who turns 32 on Thursday, said he had given no thought to retiring and wanted to play for at least another four to five years.”It’s been disappointing, I’m not going to lie about that. The last 12 months have been a big challenge.”But if I look at my career I’ve been playing for eight years and I can tell you that in eight years there’s been more highs than lows and given that I achieve what I want to achieve in the next four to five years this will be one year out of 10 that was a bit of a blip.”Slater felt he could still have good relations with the media but admitted they’d been strained by a recent focus on his personal life.”There’s been a lot of interest in myself in recent times from certain sections in the media and in the wrong areas I felt.”I’m a cricketer and I’ve got a personal life like everyone else, and it seemed to be a bit of a snowball effect that was getting out of hand in my personal life, which is exactly that, my personal life.”