Sri Lanka send for psychologist

Gordon has plenty of experience in international cricket

Sri Lanka have enlisted the help of sports psychologist Sandy Gordon to try and produce an upturn in performance.

The team have slipped from second to sixth in the one-day rankings after losing eight of their last nine games.

"We are in serious trouble. I can see the body language and it's clear the team has lost confidence.

"Mentally, they are down. We have to give the players their confidence back," said Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Duleep Mendis.

Gordon has plenty of experience in international cricket.

He was an integral part of the Australian set-up during the 1999 World Cup, conducting one-to-one sessions with individual players, analysing their performances and setting personal goals.

And he was later recruited by New Zealander John Wright during his spell as coach of the Indian national team.

Gordon also had a brief spell with Sri Lanka last year, immediately prior to their 2-0 home Test series win over West Indies.

The team are currently on tour in New Zealand where they have two games left to play before heading to Australia, where they will take part in the triangular VB Series, also involving South Africa.

Mendis hopes Gordon will quickly have a positive impact.

"We are approaching the World Cup (in 2007). It is a very important time. Hopefully, we will benefit from it," he added.