Watch cricket video highlights of Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025. First Test between Australia and Sri Lanka. Venue of the match will be Galle.
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from Youtube
Report
Stand-in captain Steven Smith marked his 10,000th Test run by achieving a remarkable century, while Usman Khawaja celebrated reaching his 16th ton as Australia benefitted from an attacking strategy against a spin-heavy Sri Lankan bowling attack on a slow track in Galle. At the conclusion of the first day’s play in the series, Australia was in a commanding position at 330 for 2, with rain bringing an early end to the match after 81.1 overs.
Khawaja and Smith combined for an impressive unbroken partnership of 195 runs for the third wicket, taking full advantage of the favorable batting conditions, and marking a strong start for an Australian team looking for its first series win in Sri Lanka since 2011. Having boasted an average of 66 in 38 prior Tests as captain, Smith has clearly relished the opportunity to lead the team with Pat Cummins on paternity leave.
After lunch, he demonstrated superb form, reaching his half-century in 57 balls before exercising caution during the final session as Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Jayasuriya shifted to a defensive leg stump line. As the overcast skies loomed, Smith regained his rhythm and completed his 35th Test century. He raised his baggy green in a subdued celebration, having scored three centuries in his last seven Test innings.
Entering the match just one run away from 10,000, Smith had narrowly missed the milestone in the fifth Test against India at his home ground in the SCG. On his very first delivery before lunch, he achieved the landmark with a flick to mid-on, joining the ranks of Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh as the only Australians to reach this feat. He received a hearty applause from teammates and delighted Australian supporters in the stands, celebrating with a modest wave of his bat.
Shortly after, he nearly fell victim to Jayasuriya when he offered a return catch, which was dropped low to his right. Nevertheless, Smith displayed almost flawless batting from that point onward, donning his baggy green cap and playing with confidence. Like the opening batsmen Khawaja and Travis Head in the first session, Smith was quick to respond and aimed straight at the trio of spinners. With the absence of his usual tormentor Jasprit Bumrah, Khawaja seemed composed and played with positive intent.
Finally breaking a long dry spell without a century since the first Test of the Ashes in mid-2023. Following a disappointing series against India, pressure had mounted on the 38-year-old Khawaja, but he justified the selection by perfectly complementing the aggressive styles of Smith and Head, who validated his promotion up the order with a brisk 57 off 40 balls. Khawaja skillfully executed the reverse sweep and reached his century off 135 balls, celebrating by pumping his fists and removing his helmet before waving his bat to the crowd.
Sri Lanka has faced a difficult start to the two-Test series, characterized by sloppy fielding and slow reviews. They regrettably missed several opportunities to dismiss Khawaja, including two dropped catches from the increasingly frustrated Jayasuriya, who had previously excelled against Australia at this venue with a 12-wicket haul in his Test debut in 2022. Khawaja was also fortunate on 74 when he edged a delivery from Jayasuriya to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, but Sri Lanka opted not to review the not out decision.
Besides a threatening spell from leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who turned the ball sharply and had been a surprising selection, Sri Lanka’s bowlers appeared rattled and struggled to contain Australia’s scoring until they resorted to more defensive tactics towards the end of the day’s play. However, the damage was already significant after Australia amassed 261 runs at a rate of 4.35 during the first two sessions. Head established the pace after Smith didn’t hesitate to choose to bat when the coin landed in his favor during the oppressive humidity and on a dry pitch.
In a somewhat debatable decision, Head was promoted from No. 5, resulting in the omission of 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who had made an impressive start to his Test career against India. This move also permitted Josh Inglis, the wicketkeeper from Western Australia known for his skill against spin, to make his Test debut at number five as a specialist batsman. However, his services haven’t been required up to this point.
After struggling as a middle-order batsman in Sri Lanka, Head excelled as an opener during the 2023 tour in India, and he mirrored that success with a 92-run partnership alongside Khawaja. Head’s rapid scoring rate indicates aggressive batting reminiscent of the recently finished Big Bash League, yet he approached his innings thoughtfully and largely in a conventional manner. He sprinted to 23 runs off just 13 balls without showing any mercy, though he was fortunate when Asitha Fernando’s initial three-over spell concluded with a ball that hit him on the pads.
Fernando made a vigorous appeal, but Sri Lanka chose not to review, even though replays indicated the not out call would likely have been overturned. Head reached his fifty in just 35 balls but was dismissed soon after while attempting to clear long-on against Jayasuriya, only to miscue the shot to Dinesh Chandimal on the boundary. The match shifted – quite literally – as Vandersay began to bowl sharp legspin from the outset.
He delivered a Shane Warne-like legbreak that completely deceived Marnus Labuschagne on his very first ball, while Nishan Peiris had an extensive lbw appeal turned down, with DRS confirming the on-field decision. Labuschagne, who had reached 20, edged a delivery from Vandersay to first slip, allowing Sri Lanka to conclude the first session in higher spirits. However, their mood quickly changed upon the resumption, as Smith struck Jayasuriya for a six straight down the ground and batted effortlessly until Sri Lanka adjusted their approach.
Jayasuriya bowled four successive maidens before and after tea, targeting a leg stump line as Smith patiently defended the ball. These defensive tactics led umpire Chris Gaffaney to give the Sri Lankans a warning before the game finally received a boost when Smith capitalized on fatigued bowling to climb into seventh place on the list of the most Test century makers. Sri Lanka took the second new ball, but seven deliveries later, rain provided a much-needed respite for the struggling home side.
Australia opted for a spin-heavy lineup, including offspinner Todd Murphy and left-arm bowler Matthew Kuhnemann, alongside frontline spinner Nathan Lyon. Mitchell Starc served as the only pace bowler included, while allrounder Beau Webster had the ability to bowl both seam and spin. Scott Boland was unfortunately left out after claiming 10 wickets in the SCG Test against India.
