1985–86 season batting wise, making 793 runs at 44, but did less well with the ball, taking 17 wickets at 55.47. That summer saw Greg Matthews and Ray Bright established as Australia's leading spinners. 1986–87 Test Recall Sleep next played for Australia in the 1986–87 Ashes. Greg Matthews' form began to slide and Sleep was recalled for the second test side, but was relegated to 12th man. Sleep played in the third test team, taking 4–132 in England's first innings. In the 4th test he took 1–61 and made 16 runs. However he was kept on for the fifth test, where his 5–72 in the second innings helped bowl Australia to victory. Sleeps first class figures that summer were 408 runs at 24.00 and 30 wickets at 32.03. He missed out on selection in Australia's World Cup Squad in favour of Peter Taylor and Tim May. 1987–88 Summer During the 1987–88 summer Sleep played the first test against New Zealand. He took no wickets but his first innings knock of 39 was Australia's second highest score and helped them to a rare victory. In the second test he took 1–109 and 3–61 plus a score of 62 with the bat. For the third test Sleep top scored in Australia's first innings with 90 but only took 0–31 and 3–107 with the ball; his second innings of 20 helped Australia escape with a draw. "I think I have turned the corner as an all rounder," said Sleep after his 90. For the Bicentennial test he took 2–114 and made 41 in Australia's first innings, the second highest score. Sleep made 775 runs that summer at 40.78 and took 32 wickets at 46.21. He kept his place in the Australian side on the 1988 tour of Pakistan. 1988: Tour of Pakistan Sleep took five wickets in a tour match against the BCCP XI but was overlooked in favour of Tim May for the first test. He was picked in the second test and took two wickets in the first innings. Sleep was not selected in the Australian side over the 1988-89 summer as the selectors went for Trevor Hohns and Tim May. They were the spinners chosen on the 1989 tour of England. In 1988/89 Sleep made 587 runs at 41.92 and took 14 first class wickets at 63.92. 1989–90 Summer vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan Sleep's next test was in 1989–90