This has been going on for 35 years: Border

Former Test captain Allan Border says finding a solution to Australia's woes on the subcontinent is the "the million-dollar question" as they prepare to analyse another heavy series defeat in spinning conditions.

Australia's 163-run loss in the third Test in Colombo, which consigned them to a 3-0 series defeat and the loss of their No.1 Test ranking, means they've now won just one of their past 18 Test matches in Asia, stretching back almost eight years.

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But Border, who played 22 of his 156 Tests in Asia for just two victories, says it's simply the continuation of a familiar pattern for Australian cricket.

"Obviously the post mortems will start soon about Australian cricket and our non-performance in the subcontinent," Border told Ten Sports of Australia's all-time record that now stands at 26 wins from 89 matches in Asia.

"This has been going on for 35 years. We've had the odd bright moment under Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting and under Stephen Waugh. We've had some good moments, but they've been few and far between.

"There'll be a post mortem. There's not too many positives for the Australians.

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"Mitchell Starc, obviously, is a standout. Twenty-four wickets for him, he held it together well for the Aussie boys.

"But it was the batting that really struggled in the face of some quality spin bowling. What we do about that is the million-dollar question."

Border unsurprisingly pointed to Australia's batting collapses as the main reason for their series defeat in Sri Lanka, just their second ever to the island nation since their first contest in 1983.

The Aussies lost 10-83 on the final day of the third Test having also lost 9-112 in the first innings.

And of the 60 Australian wickets that fell across the three Tests, 54 of them were to the turning ball.

"You can't do that and it just shows how important first-innings wicket runs are," Border said.

"Australia were 1-267 in the first innings, you're looking at a big 400s score from that and to give yourself breathing space when you go into the fourth innings.

"We just need to be better throughout the innings and not lose wickets in clumps like we've been doing.

"When one brings two, three, four and beyond, you can't win games in the subcontinent when you're doing that."

Border sung the praises of a young and inexperienced Sri Lankan side, who came into the series on the back of a winless tour of England.

And he said the guile and skill of 38-year-old spinner Rangana Herath, who the tourists identified pre-series as the major weapon in the home side's arsenal, was one of the major differences between the two sides.

"The Australians spoke about Herath endlessly and not getting beaten on the inside edge," Border said of the left-armer, who took 28 for the series including 13 for the match in Colombo, the most by any Sri Lankan in a Test against Australia.

"But it's amazing when a couple of balls start going past the outside edge when he turns it, it's hard to keep playing the line.

"He just sets batsmen up beautifully with those subtle variations. On helpful pitches, you have to say, but you’ve still got to get the ball in the right areas.

"Right from the first Test match until now, Sri Lanka have found ways to get themselves out of trouble and into a dominant position.

"The contributions from the young players have been absolutely fantastic.

"So (it's) thoroughly deserved. Australia have just been outplayed."

Border was among a handful of former players to share their thoughts on the series result.