Cricket: Johnson skittles Sri Lanka

Kumar Sangakkara (left) celebrates 10,000 test runs at the MCG. Photo / AP

Kumar Sangakkara top-scores with 58 and reaches a batting milestone of 10,000 runs.

Mitchell Johnson capped his recall to the test side with a four-wicket haul, including his 200th victim, as Australia skittled Sri Lanka for 156 before tea on day one of the Boxing Day test at the MCG.

Pugnacious opener David Warner then set the tone in the final session, smashing 62 off 46 balls before Australia wobbled slightly, losing three quick wickets including an embarrassing run out of Phil Hughes (10).

Still, at stumps, it was the home side well on top, with skipper Michael Clarke and Shane Watson unbeaten at the crease and the total 150-3.

Left-armer Johnson, who claimed six wickets in his comeback test against South Africa in Perth last month, then was overlooked for last week's first test in Hobart, claimed 4-63 from 14 overs and bowled with tremendous pace.

Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 58 and, in doing so, became the 11th player in test history to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs.

Sri Lanka won the toss and Aussie debutant Jackson Bird (2-32) struck in his second over with Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind for five.

Johnson removed the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan for 11 after pushing an inswinger through bat and pad as the Sri Lankan aimed an ambitious slog over mid-on.

Peter Siddle (2-30) achieved a massive breakthrough as skipper Mahela Jayawardene was caught behind for three at 37-3.

Bird's alarming bounce caught Thilan Samaraweera (10) by surprise in the first over after lunch as the right-hander top-edged a pull to midwicket at 79. The loose strokeplay of Dilshan and Samaraweera was repeated by vice-captain Angelo Mathews (15), whose drive landed in the hands of Mike Hussey at second slip off the bowling of Siddle at 99-5.

Prasanna Jayawardene (24) edged a short ball to third slip off Johnson and Dhammika Prasad was beaten for pace next ball and caught behind for a duck as Johnson found himself on a hat-trick.

Johnson's 200th wicket came when wicketkeeper Matthew Wade ran towards fine leg and held a superb diving catch after Sangakkara top-edged a pull shot 13 runs later with the total on 147. The paceman became the 14th Australian bowler to reach the 200 mark.

Spinner Nathan Lyon (2-23) removed tailenders Rangana Herath (14) and Chanaka Welegedara (0) cheaply.

Sangakkara's cover-drive boundary just before lunch made him only the second Sri Lankan, behind Jayawardene, to score 10,000 test runs. He averages more than 55 runs in a career spanning 115 tests. He reached the 10,000 mark in 195 innings, equalling the record previously shared by Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar who tops the test run scorers' list with 15,645.

Fastest to 10,000

Kumar Sangakkara (SL), 195 innings
Brian Lara (WI), 195
Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), 195
Ricky Ponting (Aus), 196