Monument to disgraced Australian cricket great Michael Slater in hometown vandalized

Disgraced former Australian cricket great Michael Slater has had his name removed from a monument on an oval bearing his name at his childhood home in Wagga Wagga.

The 54-year-old faces 18 charges related to domestic violence, including allegations of choking and strangulation, assault resulting in bodily harm, four counts of common assault, criminal harassment and breaking into a home at night.

He is also accused of violating his bail conditions and is currently behind bars.

On Wednesday morning it was revealed that vandals had removed his name from the monument dedicated to him on the oval named in his honour.

Michael Slater had his name removed from the monument on an oval named in his honor

Slater was denied bail last month as he faces 18 domestic violence-related charges

Debate recently divided his home town of Wagga Wagga over the renaming of sporting facilities.

Local councilor Jenny McKinnon shared an image of the vandalized sign on the oval with ‘Michael Slater’ no longer visible.

“I have urged Council to change the name of this oval as a matter of urgency,” McKinnon wrote on Facebook.

“I’m glad to see that someone (perhaps the Council?) has taken some stealth action.”

Wagga has been home to several cricketing greats, including Geoff Lawson and Mark Taylor, who also have ovals named after them.

Councilor Dan Hayes also called for the name of the oval to be changed since allegations were made against the cricket legend.

“I want to think about ways we could replace that name with someone more deserving,” Hayes said last year.

“Someone without criminal charges.” »

The former cricket star (pictured playing for Australia in 1999) played 74 Tests for his country

The former Channel Nine commentator played 74 Tests for Australia during an eight-year career, scoring 5,312 runs and 14 centuries in the long form of the game.

He also played in 42 one-day international matches for his country.