Slater stunned to be axed while Waugh delays decision

LONDON, England - An emotional Michael Slater was stunned to learn that he would be replaced by the out-of-form Justin Langer for the Fifth Ashes Test at the Oval.

Slater said today he cut short captain Steve Waugh, who will wait until just prior to tomorrow's Test to decide whether he had overcome a torn calf muscle to play.

"The meeting yesterday was quite brief," Slater said.

"At times I wear my heart on my sleeve.

"Being told I was dropped for the last Test was enough, more than I could handle at the time."

Slater, with 170 runs at 24 in the series, has been supplanted by Langer, who will be given the opportunity to open the innings despite not playing in any of the Ashes Tests.

Langer has scored 183 runs in five first class games at an average of 20.33.

"It's a big change for us at the top of the order," Waugh said.

"Slater's form hasn't been what it should have been and Justin deserves his chance.

"There are always related issues but that's for the selection panel. Slater has been dropped on form," he added, quashing speculation the 31-year-old had been dropped for disciplinary reasons.

Slater was fined after missing the bus for team training two days before the Headingley Test.

Asked if that incident was at the heart of his dumping, Slater said: "I hope we're living in a world bigger than that.

"It was an honest mistake that morning.

"Unfortunately I'm into my gadgets, I bought a new phone and the alarm didn't go.

"I'm not the only one to do it on this tour."

He said he didn't miss training, and felt "comfortable" with how he had carried himself on tour.

Waugh badly tore his calf muscle during the Ashes-winning Third Test at Trent Bridge and missed the fourth Test at Headingley, won by England.

"I'm pretty confident of playing but I'll wait until tomorrow morning I've got to be somewhere close to 100 per cent," Waugh said.

"It's a Test match I want to play. It doesn't add much significance that it's the last one," added the 36-year-old, who is unlikely to tour England again.

Waugh said that if he was fit Simon Katich would be left out after making his debut in the Fourth Test.

He downplayed Slater's omission, saying his days as a Test batsman were not yet over.

"Of course he has a Test future," Waugh said.

And Slater, who has been dropped before in his 74-Test career vowed to fight his way back into the side.

"I've underachieved this tour. I've got all the faith in the world in the leadership of this team and on the selection.

"My main aim is to get back into the first Test side in our Australian summer.

The quicker I get over the disappointment the better chance I have to be ready for that first Test match. It is a burning desire now."