And if Nathan Lyon (3-80) and Matthew Kuhnemann (4-52) pick up where they left off yesterday and Travis Head swats another a quick-fire half-century from the top, Australia can bank their first series whitewash on the subcontinent in nearly 20 years.
Ever humble, the old man from the town of Young (where the prize export is sweet cherries), was quick to shift the praise to spin partner Matthew Kuhnemann and also pay tribute to two legends who sat on his shoulders and whispered in his ears as he made history.
The home side will resume at 211 for 8, a slim lead of 54 runs on Australia’s mammoth first innings of 414, but with just two wickets in hand.
In the Sheffield Shield game at the Gabba, New South Wales are fighting back from a disastrous 39-5 – including the prize scalp of Sam Konstas for 3 from 33 balls – to trail Queensland 292 runs with five wickets remaining.
Sri Lanka’s hopes sit heavy on the shoulders of first-innings hero Kusal Mendis (48 not out) after they again lost a clump of key of middle-order wickets yesterday, including the prized scalp of veteran Angelo Mathews for 76.
