SLC appoints short-term bowling consultants

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 up with the squad at a two-week training camp which started on Wednesday (9 May) 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,” said an SLC release.

“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 18 May, their appointment 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 wrist spinners in shorter formats of the game, highlighted by recent call-ups for Wanidu Hasaranga and Jeewan Mendis, while the likes of Jeffrey Vandersay and Lakshan Sandakan have also been in and out of the side. Hathurusingha will likely be looking to Sleep to help improve the effectiveness and consistency of such talent at his disposal.

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 paceman fit leading up to next year’s World Cup.

(MB)