Australia's batting looks bare, says Robert Croft, despite their Test domination of Sri Lanka continuing at the SCG

Australia have just completed a Test series whitewash of Sri Lanka - but Sky Sports pundits Robert Croft and Mark Butcher think rockier times could lie ahead for the Antipodeans.

Hot potato

Butcher added: "Bird runs up and uses the new ball absolutely magnificently, something you have to do in Australia as there is only a 15-over window in which the Kookaburra ball is going to swing or seam. "He is strong, very tall and, to use footballing parlance, he seems to have a very good engine; he doesn't jump into the red zone after four overs and get tired. "He looks like he can bowl all day and Australia have got a good one there, and if he stays fit he could do well in English conditions. "Vernon Philander proves that a good length is a good length anywhere; he does the basics well and is knocking people over left right and centre - and Australia have that in Bird." Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are searching for a new skipper, with Mahela Jayawardene opting to step down from the role, but Butcher reckons the Lions have deeper-rooted problems. "The captaincy keeps getting tossed around like a hot potato," said Butcher. "Kumar Sangakkara couldn't wait to get rid of it and I'm not sure how the players handle the politics of Sri Lankan cricket, so I don't know where they go from here. "But it is a tough time for Sri Lanka all round as they don't have an obvious wicket-taker and they don't have an obvious good seam bowler." Catch live coverage of the first ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka from 3am, Friday, January 11 on Sky Sports 2 HD.