SYDNEY (AP):

Mike Hussey helped Australia to a five-wicket win and 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka yesterday, ending his international career in typically understated fashion.

The 37-year-old Hussey steered Australia through a tricky second-innings spell when a flurry of wickets threatened to derail it, but with the crowd baying for him to hit the winning runs, he let someone else do the honours.

Mitchell Johnson hit the winning single at the Sydney Cricket Ground for his only run to take Australia to 141-5 and victory, leaving Hussey smiling at the other end on 27 not out.

"I was telling Mitch the over before, 'if it comes up that you hit it, then I'm more than happy to let us get this over and done with'," Hussey said. "I was hoping that we could make the runs none down, but I was more than happy to be out there when the winning run was hit. A dream come true.

"The important thing was making sure we won the Test match."

Sri Lanka spinners Rangana Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan made Australia work hard to reach the small victory target, taking regular wickets, but the outcome was never in doubt.

cheering crowd

With two runs needed, 'Mr Cricket', as Hussey is nicknamed for his dedication, ran a single to leave the crowd cheering every block and dot ball from Johnson until the paceman could no longer resist temptation and knocked off the winning single.

Sri Lanka still have not won a Test in Australia in 14 attempts and were left to rue their lack of runs in both innings. Only three batsmen scored more than 25 in the first innings and the loss of four middle-order wickets for just 24 runs stunted the second innings.

"When you are competing at this level, we need to be much better prepared and show more character to win Test matches in these conditions," Sri Lanka captain Mahele Jayawardene said.

The Australian summer now switches to limited-overs games, with the West Indies joining Sri Lanka on the tour.