Australia captain Michael Clarke keen to build on Test win

The hosts earned an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after thrashing Sri Lanka by an innings and 201 inside three days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Trailing by 304 runs after the first innings, Sri Lanka were skittled for just 103 in their second knock, albeit with Prasanna Jayawardene (broken thumb) and Chanaka Welegedara (hamstring) both unable to bat due to injury.

They also saw star batsman Kumar Sangakkara retire hurt with a hand injury when he was on 27 on what was a miserable day for the tourists.

Things could hardly have gone better for Australia, though, and captain Clarke is hoping to see his side use this match as a base for future performances.

“This is our standard now, we’ve got to continue to get better from here,” he said.

“I think we need to be realistic as well. It’s about consistency. It’s nice we’ve done it in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka and it’s great we’ve won the series, but we have a lot of work to do as a team.”

Australia will aim to seal a 3-0 series whitewash when the final Test starts in Sydney on Thursday, after which they face Sri Lanka in five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.

Clarke’s men will then tour India in a four-Test series during February and March before the Ashes start in England in July.

“Our aim is to repeat our effort here in Sydney and win the series 3-0. We’ve still got a lot of improvement to do as a team but it’s a really positive step for this team to see that we are improving.”