Presence of wives and girlfriends (WAGs) during the Test matches would act as a distraction and pose a threat to Australia's Ashes defence, according to former cricketer Michael Slater.
Cricket Australia, keeping in mind the long tour, has invited WAGs for the first two Test against England in July.
Slater feels that it was important for players to spend quality time together to create bonding, than with WAGs.
"There is no doubt that in that initial phase of a tour you want the blokes to be able to hang around for dinner together and have a few beers, just be in each others pocket to get that team harmony going," Slater said.
Slater railed CA for inviting the WAGs to the Ashes planning camp at Coolum in Queensland.
"The WAGs being at a camp when you're setting up for your next six months of cricket, I don't know that that's the way it needs to go, I don't think it's right.
"In terms of the preparation, when you're coming up with your strategy you don't need the partners there," Slater was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
The former opener cited the example of legendary Allan Border, who had barred the entry of WAGs into the team hotel until the series was won.
"Now that's outdated but that was the regime and what he thought was the right way to go and we won the series, they won under the same regime also in the late '80s," he said.
