Australia's dominating, 210-run win in the six-day test yesterday completed a sweep of the World XI and cast doubt over the future of the Super Series concept.
Stuart MacGill took three wickets in the last five balls as the World XI was skittled for 144 chasing 355 to win at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
MacGill returned 5-43 in the innings and 9-82 for the match, while Shane Warne snared three wickets in each innings as the international batsmen struggled to cope with the tandem leg-spin attack.
The Australians won the limited-overs series 3-0 in Melbourne last week, when the World XI failed to bat through 50 overs in any match.
While Ricky Ponting -- one of five Australians who played in every match and collected US$132,708 in prize money and fees -- loved the Super Series concept, others thought it had merit but needed tinkering.
"The idea of this series is fantastic and hopefully I'll get to play in a few more," said Ponting, who was under intense pressure ahead of the series after losing an Ashes series to England.
"It's no compensation for losing the Ashes ... [but] to win a test match against the best players from the rest of the world is extremely satisfying."
The World XI lost its last four wickets for one run Monday after Warne removed Mark Boucher (17).
MacGill was on a hat-trick after removing Daniel Vettori (0) and Steve Harmison lbw on consecutive balls.
Muttiah Muralitharan survived the hat-trick ball but was stumped by Adam Gilchrist three deliveries balls later -- ending the match with a scheduled 2 1/2 days to spare.
Jacques Kallis was stranded on 39 not out.
"I was a little bit surprised of how easy it ended today but not through the course of the game," said Ponting. "They proved yesterday just how dangerous they can be as a side. They got themselves right back in with a chance to win the game."
The Australians were in command after scoring 345 in the first innings, bowling the World XI out for 190 and reaching 152-1 in the second innings. But Andrew Flintoff, Harmison and Muralitharan took three wickets apiece Sunday as Australia was out for 199 -- after losing nine wickets for 47 runs -- setting the visitors a tough but not impossible target.
World XI coach John Wright said his bowlers did a brilliant job to keep the match alive, but a lack of runs from the top-order batsmen stymied any chance of a win.
"We never got an innings going in the one-day series, which perhaps had an effect flowing to this match," he said.
International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed said the concept had to be reviewed following the lopsided results, confirming the idea of a Super Series every four years was off the agenda.
"When we set this series up the questions we asked was, `Can a team of champions beat a champion team?' I think we saw the answer comprehensively."
Experimental rules allowing onfield umpires to refer decisions to a TV umpire would also be reviewed after mixed results in the series, he said.
World XI captain Graeme Smith said his lineup was ill prepared because some members hadn't played for months and Australia was coming off an intense Ashes series. He said the Super Series needing some refining to make it a better contest.
Gilchrist was voted player of the Super Series.



