Sri Lanka Cricket has enlisted the services of Australian spin and fast-bowling consultants, Peter Sleep and Timothy McCaskill, ahead of their upcoming tour of the West Indies. The pair, who have been hired on a short-term basis, will join the squad at the two-week training camp which started on Wednesday in Pallekele, Kandy.
"Peter Sleep, the former Australian legspinner will work with the spinners, while Cricket Victoria's High Performance Manager Timothy McCaskill will work with the squad's fast bowling unit," an SLC release said.
"Both were hired as short-term consultants under the recommendation of Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha. Sleep will work with the squad for 15 days, while McCaskill will work for 10 days."
With the pair also slotted in to conduct a workshop for 50 National High Performance and Club coaches on May 18, their appointments can be seen as Hathurusingha attempting to redress deficiencies he has identified in the national pool.
Hathurusingha has long been an advocate for the effectiveness of wristspinners in shorter formats of the game, highlighted by recent call-ups for Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeevan Mendis, while the likes of Jeffrey Vandersay and Lakshan Sandakan have also been in and out of the side. Hathurusingha will likely be looking at Sleep to help improve the effectiveness and consistency of such talent.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's fast-bowling contingent, while talented, has been struggling in terms of maintaining fitness. McCaskill is known for his work in remodelling the actions of bowlers following lengthy injury layoffs, most notably with Australia's James Pattinson. With the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal at constant risk of injury, SLC will be hoping McCaskill's expertise will help keep their frontline pacemen fit leading up to next year's World Cup.