Aussies clinch the series with huge innings win

Furious bowling from a revitalised Mitchell Johnson powered Australia to triumph by an innings and 201 runs against Sri Lanka in a Boxing Day Test that ended finished three days at the MCG.

Mitchell Johnson - who was left unbeaten eight short of his  second Test Hundred earlier in the day when Australia were bowled out for 460 in reply to Sri Lanka's 1st innings 156 runs - captured two for 16, injured two top-order batsmen and affected a run-out as the Sri Lanke  were skittled for 103.

Sri Lanka have lost seven wickets midway through day three's 2nd  session but, with Prasanna Jayawardene and Chanaka Welagedara unable to bat, and Kumar Sangakkara retiring hurt on 27 runs, the Australians were home and dry. The trouncing meant Australia retained the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, with the third fixture in Sydney to start next Thursday. Johnson take 4 for 63 - including his 200th wicket  in Sri Lanka's first innings before boosting his status as a lower-order batsman with an unbeaten 92 in Australia's reply.

Light showers delayed the start of play by 15 minutes before Australia added 20 runs for the loss of Nathan Lyon, caught at short mid-wicket for one, and Jackson Bird, comprehensively bowled by Shaminda Eranga for a duck. Eranga take 3 for 109  and Dhammika Prasad got 3 for 106 runs were the leading bowlers for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka  could not have started the rearguard action any worse as Mitchell Johnson and debutant Bird (2 for 29) removed their flaky top order. visitors severely slumped to 13 runs for four midway through the 1st session.

Mitchell Johnson began the rot with the run-out of Dimuth Karunaratne for one  in the first over and removed Tillakaratne Dilshan for duck in very  the next ball when Ed Cowan pouched a catch at square leg. Bird made matters worse for the besieged tourists when he bowled Skipper  Mahela Jayawardene for a duck and trapped Thilan Samaraweera lbw for one just before lunch.

Only Kumar  Sangakkara scored 27 runs and Angelo Mathews made 35  provided any resistance and, when the former retired hurt after copping a blow to the index finger from a Mitchell Johnson bouncer, the match was in its death throes. After Johnson bowled Mathews, Peter Siddle wrapped up Australia's win by gain Shaminda Eranga for a duck.

Mitchell Johnson claimed  man-of-the-match honours ahead of Australia Skipper Michael Clarke who scored 106 runs on day two.