SYDNEY (Reuters)
Australian Test reject Michael Slater's career has fallen away even further, after he was dropped from the New South Wales team for the four-day match against Victoria which starts at Sydney on Friday.

Slater, who turns 32 next month, was dropped by Australia for the fifth Ashes Test against England at The Oval in August last year and has since struggled to find form in the Pura Cup, the Australian domestic first-class competition, scoring 257 runs at 25.70.

"It's always distressing to leave out a talented player, especially one with a career record like Michael's," said John Benaud, the chairman of the NSW selectors. "But he's sadly out of touch at the moment. Hopefully some time in the middle away from the pressure-cooker of first-class cricket might help him get back to his very best form soon."

Slater averages 42.84 in 74 Tests since making his debut at the start of the 1993 Ashes tour. He has made 14 Test centuries (and nine nineties). That disappointing end to the Ashes tour was just part of a tough year for him personally - he also endured marriage problems.

Just 12 months ago Slater was Australia's leading runscorer in the 2000-01 five-Test series against West Indies, with 373 runs at 53.28.

When Australia's world-record Test-match winning streak of 16 ended in India in March last year, Slater was one of only four to have played in all 16 victories, in which he scored 1031 runs at 42.96.

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