The appointment comes ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.

Captain Steven Smith confirmed Murali had begun to work with Australia's spinners in their training sessions in Colombo, where the team arrived last weekend. Murali is expected to continue in this consulting role until the start of the first Test, in Pallekele. Some Australia players had also worked with former Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who is presently coaching at the National Cricket Academy in Brisbane.

"Murali's got a lot of experience in Sri Lanka," Smith said. "He took a truckload of wickets. It's great to have someone like that helping our spinners in this series - to give us that insight. He's been really good around the group so far, and he's enjoying his time with us."

Australia had previously hired Murali in a short-term consulting role ahead of their Test series against Pakistan, in the UAE, in 2014. Both offspinner Nathan Lyon and left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe, who are also on the present tour, had worked with Murali on that occasion. Murali has had two training sessions with the Australia team in this stint so far.

"Murali has been fantastic around the guys," Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. "Murali loves the game of cricket, so I'm sure he'd work well with other teams as well - he's a fantastic coach."

The first of three Tests begins in Pallekele on July 26. The series is unusually beginning in Kandy in order to get the Pallekele Test out of the way before the Esala Perahera season begins in the city.

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