Former Cricketer Michael Slater Collapses in Court After Bail Denied

Former Australian Test cricketer Michael Slater collapsed in a Queensland court on Tuesday after a magistrate refused to grant him bail on more than a dozen charges, including stalking and domestic violence offenses.

The 54-year-old television commentator and ex-batsman had to be helped to his feet by court staff after falling to the floor when the magistrate denied his bail application, local media reported.

Among the allegations against Slater, police said he had sent unwanted text messages and made intimidating phone calls over the past six months. He is due to appear in court again at the end of May.

The court heard that Slater has mental health conditions that can lead to "impulsive and reckless" behavior, according to ABC News.

Slater, who played 74 Test matches for Australia between 1993 and 2001, amassing over 5,000 runs including 14 centuries, was also accused of committing common assault and unlawful stalking.

After retiring from all cricket in 2004, the former opening batsman went on to forge a successful career as a television commentator, providing expert analysis for various networks.

However, this latest legal trouble represents a dramatic fall from grace for the one-time cricketing star, who now faces the prospect of a custodial sentence if found guilty of the charges against him.