October 23 Wednesday 2002
Slater to bat in middle-order

SYDNEY: Former Test opener Michael Slater will bat in the middle-order if he plays for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match with South Australia in Adelaide starting on Friday, coach Steve Rixon said on Tuesday.

Slater was named in the NSW squad for the match after missing out on the opening four-day game against Queensland in Brisbane last week. With incumbent openers Matthew Phelps and Corey Richards sharing a 44-run partnership in Brisbane, Rixon said Slater would not bat any higher than five if he made the 11 on Friday.