McDonald praises Khawaja, Kuhnemann after big Australia win

Two unlikely heroes stepped up for Australia as they handed hosts Sri Lanka their biggest ever test defeat, and coach Andrew McDonald was impressed by both after a dominant start to the two-test seriesr the Champions Trophy, which kicks off Feb. 19.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann fractured his thumb last month and McDonald had assumed the bowler would not be available for the match, but the 28-year-old took nine wickets.

McDonald also praised opening batter Usman Khawaja who, at 38, scored a personal-highest 232 in the first innings, setting the stage for the visitors' mammoth victory by an innings and 242 runs.

"I thought he was gone," McDonald said of Kuhnemann.

"But as it progressed and got closer to the test match, he was pretty much a lock three days out. Not sure where we would have ended up, but there was plenty of conversations...in terms of selecting spinners.

"But Matt solved a lot of those dilemmas, and produced an outstanding performance."

Khawaja's innings of 232 got Australia off to a strong start on a pitch that increasingly favoured bowlers.

"He's an important part to the way that we play in subcontinent conditions," McDonald said of Khawaja. "He's got options, that reverse sweep that he's added over the journey."

Khawaja has found a way to remain successful on the international stage.

"He's been through the ringer here before, and it's great that he's been able to come through that, to have a method that is successful," the coach said.

"The unquantifiable benefit is the conversations that he's having with the next generation to get them prepared... we still think he's got plenty of cricket left in him. And I think he's been clear on that also."

The second and final test will begin in Galle on Thursday, to be followed by two one-day internationals (ODIs) in Colombo as Australia prepare for the Champions Trophy, which kicks off February 19.