Rixon says Slater criticism 'fair enough'

As Michael Slater's cricketing career approached the crossroads, New South Wales coach Steve Rixon today said it was "fair enough" questions had been raised over the ex-Test opener's place in his side.

Speculation over whether Slater would be dropped from the team for this week's Pura Cup match against Victoria in Sydney gathered momentum after his double failure batting at No.3 in Adelaide last week.

Already out of the Blues' one day line-up, Slater has amassed 257 first class runs this season at a modest average of 25.70 with just one 50 from 11 innings.

The NSW selectors are this week expected to make at least one change to an underachieving batting line-up after the Blues dropped to fourth on the Pura Cup ladder.

While Slater was a key senior figure in an understrength team missing most of its international stars, Rixon said he had no problem with the discarded Test opener's position being questioned and scrutinised.

"Slater has been out of form, so I don't think it is unfair," Rixon said.

"Because if you look at the side, obviously the focus will always be on someone like `Slats' because there's been a lot of attention his way recently.

"But the reality is that he hasn't been scoring runs and the questions are now getting asked `Is it time?' and that's fair enough, it's a performance based game."

Rixon said he and acting NSW captain Stuart MacGill made the decision to drop Slater to No.3 in Adelaide after the former Test opener indicated he had no problem with the switch.

"Michael was very proactive in that move, which was good," he said.

"He felt it was in the best interest of the team balance and he was quite happy to bat at No.3.

"And when he had his chance in the first innings, he looked very solid for a period of time, but missed out after that."

Rixon felt one of the Blues' failings this season had been their inability to build big opening partnerships.

NSW managed only two opening stands over 50 and none over 100 to date this Pura Cup season.

If NSW picked up no points from this week's SCG clash, the Blues will emulate their performance of last January when they didn't get a single point in either competition.

Rixon said he was "relatively content" with NSW lying fourth in the Pura Cup and third in the ING Cup despite its fruitless start to the New Year.

"I would have liked this year to probably be looking at a more comfortable position and having established a comfort zone - we've not made life easy for ourselves again," Rixon said.

"So from that point of view, having played poorly and still be very much in the hunt to possibly host both finals is a pretty good wicket from our point of view."