Kangaroos steamroll Sri Lankans to win test series 2-0
The Australian cricket team has buried the ghosts of their disastrous home series against India as they went on to win the just-concluded test series against Sri Lanka 2-0.
The clinical Kangaroos registered a landslide win by 366-runs in Canberra in the second and final test of the two-match series to win the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy on Monday.
Earlier, the Aussies bounced back strongly from their Test and ODI debacles against India by winning the first test against the Lankans in just two and a half days in Brisbane.
In the historic second test in the capital's Manuka Oval, which, for the first time, became a test venue, Australian skipper Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat.
The revamped Australian batting did exploit the situations as they piled up a mammoth total of 534 for five before declaring their first innings. Opener Joe Burns hit 160 while Travis Head made 161 and Kurtis Patterson chipped in with 114 to put the home side in a commanding position.
Australia's Joe Burns tries to catch the ball at the boundary line played by Sri Lanka's batsman Kusal Mendis during day 4 of the second test cricket match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Manuka Oval Cricket Ground in Canberra, Australia, February 4, 2019. /VCG Photo
In reply, the tourists suffered a batting collapse thanks to some fiery pace bowling by Mitchell Starc, as they were bundled out for 215 in the first innings. To turn the screw further, Paine didn't enforce the follow on and opted for to bat in the second innings.
Usman Khwaja became the fourth Australian centurion in the match as his classy 101 helped the hosts make 196 for three and set a difficult target of 516 runs in the second innings.
Buoyed by his first innings form, Starc once again came out all guns blazing and ripped through the Sri Lankan innings as they visitors hurtled to a massive defeat on the fourth day of the match.
His second five-wicket haul in the match and a remarkable overall yield of 10 wickets from the game helped Starc grab the Player of the Match award. Another Australian speedster Pat Cummins was adjudged the Player of the Series for his superb consistency throughout the series.
Australia players celebrate the final wicket of Vishwa Fernando of Sri Lanka to claim victory during the Second Test at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia, February 4, 2019. /VCG Photo
The rejuvenated Baggy Greens, who have played without their suspended ball-tampering trio of former skipper Steve Smith, former vice-captain David Warner and his opening partner Cameron Bancroft for the past one year, is looking forward to their much-awaited return to the international cricket as they are gearing up for this year's much-anticipated Ashes series against England.
The magnificent triumph against Sri Lanka will surely boost Australia's morale ahead of the Ashes – arguably the biggest rivalry in the history of the gentlemen's game.