Slater's Test Hopes Depend On Medical All Clear

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday November 1, 2000

Mark Ray

The immediate future of Test batsman Michael Slater is in doubt pending a thorough medical investigation of the mystery illness that struck him again at the national squad's training camp in Mooloolaba late on Monday night.

Slater faces two days of intense testing by specialists in Brisbane and will need to be passed fully fit and healthy by Australian Cricket Board doctor Trevor James before he can be selected in the Australian team for the first Test against the West Indies, which starts in Brisbane on November 23.

The illness comes on top of the broken finger suffered by leg-spinner Shane Warne in the Pura Cup game against NSW in Melbourne on Thursday and leaves the Australian team's preparation in some disarray only three weeks from the first Test.

The injury and illness problems come on top of persistent reports from India that three Australian players will be among seven non-Indians named in the CBI's report on match fixing which was handed to the nation's sports minister on Monday.

The report, largely based on the evidence of Indian bookmakers, is expected to say there was bookmaker involvement in matches on India's disastrous tour of Australia last year and in the one-off Test against Australia in Delhi in 1996.

Warne, who had two screws inserted into the top of his spinning finger on Sunday morning, was due to arrive in Mooloolaba yesterday, but discomfort in the finger convinced his medical advisers that he should remain at home in Melbourne.

``Shane's in a fair amount of discomfort," said team physiotherapist Errol Alcott. ``On medical advice we've decided that he's not coming up. It's only 48 hours post-surgery.

``The most important thing is rehab for the finger. It's in his best interests at this stage not to fly, not to risk having it bumped."

Slater was listening to a speech by Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett at the Mooloolaba Surf Club when he suffered an attack of breathlessness and faintness similar to one he experienced in England in July.

Team officials called an ambulance and after medical checks Slater was given the all clear to return to the team hotel around 12.30 yesterday morning.

``I feel fine now," Slater said yesterday afternoon. ``I just had a slight shortness of breath last night and I panicked a bit with it. I've had a good night's sleep and a restful morning and I feel good.

``I had a similar thing in England and when you've always been very fit and healthy, on both occasions I've panicked and escalated the whole thing. You can turn it into a hyperventilation session and that escalates everything."

Slater, always one of the fittest cricketers in the national squad, said he did not feel well during Monday's early meetings at the camp but was cleared by a doctor, who said he was probably feeling the after-effects of five days of cricket in Melbourne last week.

``He was a bit distressed, finding it hard to breathe, pale and sweating," Alcott said. ``So it caused a bit of concern. The paramedics were excellent. They have to treat someone with those symptoms suspiciously and they put him on an ECG and gave him oxygen and by the time he got to hospital he felt a lot more comfortable."

Slater had a similar attack in England in July during a television commentating stint. The symptoms passed and a series of tests failed to diagnose the problem.

Alcott said that this time the ACB would ensure that specialists thoroughly examined Slater to find out the cause of the attacks. He said there was no evidence of any heart problems.

``We're going to check him out more thoroughly over the next few days," Alcott said. ``He's concerned about it. You'd have to be. He's had a couple of episodes. It's important to find out what is causing it, for his peace of mind."

Slater was due to leave the Sunshine Coast for Brisbane yesterday evening.

One of the candidates for the opening batting spot alongside Slater, Victoria's Matthew Elliott, is recovering slowly from knee surgery and looks like missing at least the first two Pura Cup games, while Test pace bowler Damien Fleming suffered a broken finger in club cricket in Melbourne two weeks ago.

Queensland pace bowler Michael Kasprowicz is also recovering from shoulder surgery and will not play until the New Year.

Indian bookies arrested Page 40

© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald

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