Keith Slater

Keith Nichol Slater AM (born 12 March 1936) is a former Western Australian cricketer and West Australian Football League (WAFL) player.

For the Australian bishop, see Keith Slater (bishop). For therugby league footballer, see Keith Slater (rugby league).

Keith Slater
Personal information
Full nameKeith Nichol Slater
Born (1936-03-12) 12 March 1936
Midland, Western Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Only Test (cap 212)9 January 1959 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1955/56–1967/68Western Australia
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 1 74
Runs scored 1 2198
Batting average – 21.13
100s/50s 0/0 1/13
Top score 1* 154
Balls bowled 256
Wickets 2 140
Bowling average 50.50 42.29
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 2/40 4/33
Catches/stumpings 0/– 50/–
Source: CricketArchive, 15 July 2012
Keith Slater
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1955–58, 1960–63, 1967 Swan Districts 166 (199)
1964–1966 Subiaco 52 (?)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1956–1967 Western Australia 20 (16)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1964–1966 Subiaco 64 (27–35–2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1967.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 1967.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1966.
Career highlights
  • 1961, 1962, 1963 – WANFL premiership
  • 1961 – Simpson Medal
  • Swan Districts Team of the Century
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Cricket career

In cricket he only played in only one Test match, but 74 first-class cricket matches for Western Australia. He was an all-rounder whose international career was shortened by doubts over his bowling action. Slater wasn't selected for the 1961 Ashes tour of England, even though tipped to go, thus never adding to his one Ashes cap of 1959. Chairman of selectors Don Bradman explained it as a policy of the Imperial Cricket Conference to exclude bowlers with doubtful actions, quite common at the time. He later showed him a film to illustrate.[1] He was indeed called for throwing while playing against New South Wales in 1964–65.

Australian rules football career

Slater was a star footballer for Swan Districts and Subiaco and played in the 1961 WANFL grand final with Swans against East Perth and his display in containing “Polly” Farmer won him the Simpson Medal in a huge upset victory.[2] He continued to play for Swans for the following two seasons before Subiaco, who had between 1947 and 1956 constantly occupied the bottom two places with Swans and whose president Frank Exell had approached Slater a season before, lured him as their captain-coach after two disappointing seasons.[3]

In Slater's first season the Maroons made only their fourth open-age finals appearance since 1936, but were unexpectedly defeated by the equally unsuccessful Claremont in a rainy first semi-final. The following two seasons proved very disappointing, with the Maroons winning only eight games in 1965 and six (plus one draw) in 1966, when they lost their last nine matches. This led to questioning of Slater's coaching methods, notably his taking the Maroons on a trip to Singapore during the 1964/1965 off-season, and his contract was not renewed for 1967.[4] Slater returned to Swan Districts for 1967 but retired following that season.

See also

References
  1. Coverdale, Brydon (23 May 2016). "Brydon Coverdale meets Keith Slater, who played an Ashes Test in 1959". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  2. Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 293. ISBN 9780955689710
  3. Spillman, Ken; Diehards: The Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946–2000, p. 99. ISBN 0957818505
  4. Spillman; Diehards 1946–2000; pp. 103–108
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