Cricket news: Michael Slater axed by Channel 7 after tweets aimed at Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Michael Slater has been axed from Channel 7’s cricket coverage this summer - and we can reveal the reason why.
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Five months after he publicly attacked Prime Minister Scott Morrison, former Test star Michael Slater has failed to win a new deal at Channel 7.
In a series of fiery tweets sent back in May, Slater controversially accused the Prime Minister of having “blood on his hands” for locking Australian citizens out of returning from Covid-ravaged India.
The outburst did not sit comfortably at the time with fellow cricketers who following the cancellation of the IPL suddenly had the spotlight shone on their time in limbo in the Maldives, or with Seven executives back home.
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Channel 7 confirmed they were moving in a different direction but insist the decision not to renew his contract was more due to budgetary restraints.
“He’s a very talented broadcaster and he’s been a ripping member of our team. It’s more about financial management than anything else and we wish Michael the very best in the future, we really do,” said Channel 7 Head of Sport, Lewis Martin.
“Unfortunately business decisions have to be made from time to time and unfortunately we’re not in a position to renew it.
“He was a very popular member of our team and a very talented broadcaster. I can only expect this will only be a pause (in his career).”
I challenge you to a debate anytime PM.
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021
And did just read greed over common sense! Your government granted me permission to work so I can pay for 3 beautiful children through school and pay a mortgage. So where does common sense lie. Not on my end!
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021
Amazing to smoke out the PM on a matter that is a human crisis. The panic, the fear of every Australian in India is real!! How about you take your private jet and come and witness dead bodies on the street!
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021
If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021
Slater joined Seven from Channel 9 when the cricket TV rights changed hands and this will be the first summer in well over a decade he won’t be heading up a free-to-air coverage.
Sources say for all the former Test opener’s undoubted on-air talent, his time at Seven was tumultuous at times behind the scenes.
Slater was coming off contract anyway, but sources have been saying for some time the public challenging of Morrison was always going to make a new deal unlikely.
Players and ex-teammates were worried about Slater at the time of the Indian controversy and it’s unclear what his future television broadcasting options in Australia might be, although he has maintained work overseas.
Following Slater’s departure, it’s understood Seven will look at further promoting female talent like Abbey Gelmi and Lisa Sthalekar.
Clearly anguished at being indefinitely delayed in returning to Australia after the Covid crisis exploded in India while he was working on the IPL as a commentator earlier this year, Slater took a number of shots at the Federal Government’s decision to close the borders to returning citizens.
“If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace,” Slater wrote at the time.
“Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system.
“I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”
Morrison described Slater’s comments as “absurd”, but the Test great doubled down and challenged the Prime Minister to a debate “any time”.
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