
Matthew Wade's batting continues to be a weapon for Australia.
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1. Matthew Wade
Played a terrific rear-guard innings to bring up his second Test ton on day three. Still some concerns over his glovework – that underarm throw was a shocker – but now has two centuries and two half-centuries in his first nine Tests.
2. Jackson Bird
Would be hard-pressed to drop him after another top performance. Took seven wickets for the match and was miserly throughout. Also survived 11 balls at No.11 in the first innings, in which time Wade went from 70* to 102*.
3. Rangana Herath
Found turn on the SCG deck and used flight and change-of-pace to frequently worry Australia's batsmen. Finished with four wickets in the first innings, including the big scalps of Clarke and Hughes. Backed it up with another three in the second for a total of seven for the match.
4. Mahela Jayawardene
Turned back the clock a ways with a fine 72 in the first innings, and can fairly feel aggrieved given he was dismissed on what was arguably a Starc no ball. He backed that up with a well played 60 in the second – a fine way to depart as skipper.
5. Phil Hughes
Reached the 80s for the second time in three Tests but again didn’t carry on for a ton. Needs to lock one away soon lest his confidence falls.
6. Lahiru Thirimanne
Rivals Cowan and Samaraweera for most pointless dismissal of the Test after throwing his wicket away with a maiden Test century in the offing in his first dig. He barely troubled the scorers in his second.
7. David Warner
Another blazing start and another disappointing end for Warner, who reached 85 and then threw his wicket away in the first innings. Golden duck in the second but it was inconsequential.
8. Dimuth Karunaratne
Batted beautifully in the second innings when he made 85, doing his bit for the team. Stupidly threw his wicket away attempting a dumb pull shot off Bird in the first. Made up for it in the field by running out Hussey, at least.
9. Michael Clarke
Was incredibly lucky not to be given out first ball (he was plumb LBW) in the first innings, and added another half-century to his summer-long highlights package.
10. Dinesh Chandimal
Was the victim of a magnificent Mitchell Starc inswinging yorker in the first innings. Made a commendable 62 not out in challenging conditions in the second.
11. Mitchell Starc
Looked a mess in his first spell on day one but later put it together, removing three dangerous batsmen – Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. Didn't get much reward for effort in the second dig and must improve his consistency as he gets older.
12. Peter Siddle
A solid game from the spearhead, though his most valuable contribution perhaps came with the bat – 38 runs in a first-innings partnership worth 77 with Matthew Wade. Took three wickets for the match.
13. Mitchell Johnson
Bowled like a chump in the first innings and failed as Australia's token all-rounder. Improved considerably in the second dig, taking 3-34 at an economy of 2.26.
14. Tillakaratne Dilshan
Was the only other Sri Lankan batsman to get a start in the first innings but fell to Bird's probing line. Bowled very tightly but took only two wickets across both innings.
15. Michael Hussey
His final Test was a mixed bag. Dropped a catch in the slips and ran himself out for the first time in his career. But did take four catches, and made a steady unbeaten 27 in the second dig to guide Australia home.
16. Ed Cowan
Ran himself out like a clown and should be throttled by Warner if he does it again. Top scored for the Aussies in the second dig with 36.
17. Nuwan Pradeep
Was expensive in the first innings but claimed the wickets of "all-rounder" Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle for his troubles.
18. Suranga Lakmal
Removed Warner for a golden duck in the second innings but didn't have much else to cheer about.
19. Angelo Mathews
Needed to give more to his teammates than a combined total of 31 runs across two innings.
20. Dhammika Prasad
Took no wickets in the first innings and didn't bowl in the second.
21. Nathan Lyon
Totally ineffective with the ball in the first innings and barely bowled in the second, a worrying sign given the Sri Lankan tweakers found turn on the same deck. In danger of being "rotated" in India.
22. Thilan Samaraweera
Played arguably the worst shot of the Test in the second innings, slogging Lyon straight into the air for a duck when he could have built a solid partnership with his skipper. Capped off a very poor series for the veteran batsman.
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