Sri Lanka bowled out for 156 runs on Day 1 in the 2nd Test against Australia

Australia Fast Bowler Mitchell Johnson have lauded Australia's pace element after it condensed Sri Lanka to a miserable 1st innings score on day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

careless Sri Lankan batting and a quickfire David Warner’s fifty saw Australia claim first-day bigheaded rights over the Sri Lanka, after the tourists were all out for 156 runs within two sessions. Mitchell Johnson (4 from 63) and debutant Jackson Bird (2 off 32) were the main tormenters, while Peter Siddle (2 from 30) and Nathan Lyon (2 off 23) also chipped in.

Australia then reached 3 for 150 runs following a bombardment 62 off 46 from David Warner, with captain Michael Clarke not out on 20 returning from injury and Shane Watson unbeaten on 13 runs holding the fort at close of play.

Debutant Bird took the early plaudits with an outstanding showing in his 1st spell in Test cricket, taking 1 for 7 in his first five overs. After  thevisitors early wickets fell, Mitchell Johnson took control, taking two consecutive scalps on his way to his 200th Test wicket, before Nathan Lyon mopped up the tail enders with 2 for 23.

The one batting highlight for the visitors came with Kumar Sangakkara's 58 runs, which saw him become the joins quickest batsman to pass 10,000 Test runs.

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford praised the style of Sangakkara's innings, but rued the fact his side's top scorer could not find anyone with whom to build a partnership.