Australia focus on whitewash

AUSTRALIA will look to use the disappointment of their late Ashes fade-out in England to push for a series whitewash of New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Tim Paine’s men took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the threematch series against the Black Caps on Sunday with a 247-run win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australia have now notched four successive Test wins in a perfect home summer but still hold rueful memories of their last match in England.

Having retained the urn with victory in the fourth test at Old Trafford, Australia lost at The Oval to head home with a 2-2 draw and some regrets.

“We’ve probably got to learn a little bit from what happened in the Ashes,” Paine told reporters.

“I thought when we won the fourth Test it was such an emotional high.

“With the fast turnaround, guys were just a little bit flat mentally, I guess, a bit drained from having such a big high.

“So we’ll try to keep it nice and level over the next few days. Rest up and hit that fifth Test of the summer with as much energy as we hit the first Test at the Gabba,” Paine said, referring to the Brisbane Cricket Ground.