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Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith each belted centuries as Australia bullied a wasteful Sri Lanka team on a one-sided opening day of the first Test in Galle. Travis Head, promoted to open the innings, silenced the critics of those who wanted Sam Konstas at the top of the order by smashing 57 off 40 balls before Khawaja and Smith took control in an unbeaten 195-run third-wicket stand.
Australia were 2-330 and in complete control when rain forced stumps to be called 20 minutes early at 4.40pm.
Smith, who ended unbeaten on 104, became only the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs when he played a quick single to mid-on in the minutes before the lunch break. For his part, 38-year-old Khawaja (147 not out) fired back at those who had questioned his Test future during a lukewarm home summer and raised his bat for a first ton since June 2023.
Sri Lanka wasted several chances hunting a breakthrough, notably declining to review appeals that would have dismissed Head LBW and Khawaja caught behind.
Khawaja was dropped twice behind the stumps either side of lunch, with Smith also put down by Prabath Jayasuriya from his own bowling after the stand-in captain scored the one run he needed for his milestone. Kamindu Mendis later fumbled a tough chance to dismiss Smith in the air at cover.
Smith and Khawaja made their hosts pay, to the delight of a healthy Galle crowd comprising more Australian tourists than Sri Lankan locals. Khawaja initially played the steady hand next to Head, who brought up his half-century in 35 balls – the equal sixth-fastest Test 50 by an Australian. But when the No 5-turned-opener holed out to long-on, Khawaja took charge.
Once derided for his track record against spin, Khawaja rejoiced in flaunting his sweep shot on a slow pitch offering limited bounce. He played Asitha Fernando past fine-leg for four to bring up his 16th Test ton from 135 balls in the second session.
It was Khawaja’s first Test century in 34 attempts, and may well breathe life into a Test career that the 38-year-old insists he has no immediate plans to end.
A beautiful six down the ground towards the historic Galle Fort, and three fours from the same Vandersay over were the highlights of Smith’s fastest Test half century, brought up from 57 balls. Sri Lanka stemmed the bleeding after the tea break as Australia went 100 deliveries without a boundary, before Smith sized Vandersay up once again.
Smith belted the hot-and-cold leg-spinner for two fours past mid-wicket in three balls before he brought up a 35th Test century by running three from Nishan Peiris.
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With the foot off the accelerator, Australia offered limited chances to their hosts in the third session, before rain forced the covers on 45 minutes before play was due to finish.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had a rare moment to celebrate as Vandersay dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (20) cheaply caught behind.
The firepower could keep coming even if the hosts can break Smith and Khawaja’s partnership early on day two, with specialist Josh Inglis coming in at No 5 for his Test debut.
Selector Tony Dodemaide told the touring Australian press dropping Konstas to move Head to the top and bring Inglis had been a “difficult” call, made with Konstas’s inexperience and Head’s last subcontinent tour in mind.
But the anxiety would have been short-lived as Head bludgeoned three fours from the opening overs in a sign of the brutal team batting performance that was to follow.
Australia named a spin-heavy attack at Wednesday’s toss, with all three off-spinners Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy picked ahead of second front-line quick Scott Boland.
