Australia captain Steve Smith thinks Mitchell Starc will be fit to face South Africa in November despite a freak accident in training last week that left the pace bowler with a "gruesome" injury.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has had an operation on his left leg after a freak training ground accident, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

Former England batsman Graeme Hick has been appointed as Australia's new fulltime batting coach after initially working with the team on a temporary basis.

Glenn Maxwell is hoping his brilliant unbeaten 145 in the first Twenty20 against Sri Lanka on Tuesday will put him back on track to represent Australia in the longer formats of the game.

Australia piled up the highest ever total in a Twenty20 international on the way to a crushing 85-run victory over Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Tuesday.

South Africa's talismanic captain AB de Villiers has recovered from injury and been included in the Proteas squad for the one-day series at home against Australia starting later this month.

Australia batsmen Aaron Finch and Chris Lynn have been ruled out of the two-match Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka with injuries.

Australia have included a trio of uncapped fast bowlers in an under-strength 15-man squad for their ODI tour of South Africa.

Australia's stand-in skipper David Warner led by example, hitting a brilliant century in their five-wicket win against Sri Lanka to complete a 4-1 series victory on Sunday.

Former paceman Ryan Harris has taken a major step towards achieving his ambition of becoming Australia's permanent bowling coach after the 36-year-old was handed the role for the team's limited-overs tour of South Africa.

Former paceman Ryan Harris has taken a major step towards achieving his ambition of becoming Australia's permanent bowling coach after the 36-year-old was handed the role for the team's limited-overs tour of South Africa.

Blazing half-centuries from opener Aaron Finch and George Bailey have helped Australia to a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI as the visitors sealed an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.

Australia edged out Sri Lanka by two wickets to spoil Tillakaratne Dilshan's one-day farewell and go 2-1 up in the five-match series on Sunday.

Australia's James Faulkner claimed his maiden hat-trick but could not deny Sri Lanka a series-levelling 82-run victory in the second one-day international on Wednesday.

All-rounder James Faulkner became the sixth Australian cricketer to claim a hat-trick in one-day internationals, achieving the feat in the second match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Steve Smith and Aaron Finch struck half-centuries to help Australia to a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international in Colombo on Sunday.

Sri Lanka completed a rare 3-0 sweep over Australia after left-arm spinner Rangana Herath spun the hosts to a comprehensive 163-run victory in the final Test in Colombo on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's Kaushal Silva roared back into form with a century in the final Test against Australia on Tuesday, boosting the hosts' hopes of a 3-0 sweep against the world number one team at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.

Australia have dropped out-of-form limited overs specialist Glenn Maxwell from the squad for the one-day international series in Sri Lanka next month, the country's cricket board announced on Sunday.

Rangana Herath claimed four Australian wickets to spin Sri Lanka to a resounding 106-run victory on an intriguing final day in the weather-hit first Test in Pallekele on Saturday.

Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis struck a majestic maiden Test century on day three of the first Test against Australia to leave the bowler-dominated contest evenly poised at Pallekele on Thursday.

Australia grabbed a handy 86-run lead in the first innings over Sri Lanka and dealt an early blow with the new ball before rain washed out the entire final session for the second consecutive day in the first Test at Pallekele on Wednesday.