SYDNEY (Reuters)
Michael Slater is determined to fight his way back into Australia's team after being overlooked for the first Test against New Zealand.

Slater, who averages 42.83 in 74 Tests, lost his place to Justin Langer for the fifth and final Test against England in August.

"I think when I took a holiday in Europe at the end of the [Ashes] tour by myself, it was very clear what I had to do," Slater said. "My career statistics until now tell a story, you can't deny that.

"I'm not the only guy that's been left out of the side and you know what, I'll come back bigger and better."

Langer, who has played most of his 42 Tests at No. 3, responded to his chance by scoring a century to help Australia complete a 4-1 series victory, and another hundred in an interstate game last week ended Slater's hopes of a recall.

Captain Steve Waugh later admitted it had made him feel sick in the stomach when he had to tell Slater he had been dropped. "Speaking realistically, he [Slater] has got to get runs," Waugh said. "Justin Langer scored a hundred in the last Test match and did a great job."

Meanwhile Langer, 30, said he was a better player for having watched the first four Ashes Tests from the sidelines. "The biggest lesson I learned from being dropped is that playing for the Australian cricket team is a great honour and something that should be enjoyed rather than feeling pressure about it," he said. "When you first get dropped it's hard to see past your nose but I felt the only way back was to be optimistic because you really don't know what is around the corner."

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