Coach Graham Ford lauded the record-breaking Kumar Sangakkara, after the veteran Sri Lankan surpassed 10,000 Test runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Wednesday saw Sangakkara became the 11th player to reach the milestone, joining the prolific Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mahela Jayawardene and Sunil Gavaskar.

His vigil of 58 was the lone highlight in an otherwise poor total from the hosts, which amounted to 156 all out, before the Australians replied with 150 for three on the back of opener David Warner's half-century.

"Once you get out there, you've got to have a clear mind and you've got to make good decisions and I think Kumar showed just how important that is. I think everybody watching thoroughly enjoyed the elegance of the player. He really is something special when he plays like that," said Ford.

"And to achieve what he has achieved is absolutely amazing, so for us, although it was a disappointing day in many ways, that brought a lot of joy to the lads. He is very popular in the dressing room and to see him achieve that, everybody's absolutely delighted."

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was the pick of the home attack, marking his return to the side in the place of the rested Mitchell Starc with figures of four for 63. His haul included the eventual removal of the defiant Sangakkara.

"Kumar was just patient. He was leaving very well, but also he was going after his shots. He waited on the fuller balls, he drove really well and he just had more patience and he just wanted to stick out," added Johnson.

"He's an unbelievable player. He's the joint quickest to get 10,000 runs and he's been around for a long time and he knows how to play cricket."