COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), April 15: Former Australia off-spinner Ashley Mallett has been hired as a consultant spin bowling coach for Sri Lanka.

Mallett's three-year contract would involve him coaching spinners from grass roots level right up to the national team, besides he would also train other coaches, Sri Lanka cricket said.

His contract commits him to four two-week visits to Sri Lanka each year with the first stint scheduled to start next week in the Max Cricket Academy in Colombo.

Mallett, 60, is the latest foreign expert to be hired by Sri Lanka's cricket board.

Mallett played 38 Tests for Australia, taking 132 wickets at an average of 29.84.

In a 183-match first-class career he claimed 693 wickets at an average of 26.27.—Reuters