Usman Khawaja’s maiden double century and a hundred on debut from Josh Inglis gave Australia complete control of the first Test against Sri Lanka after two days in Galle.
At the age of 38, Khawaja’s 232 made him the second-oldest Australian to make a double hundred in Test cricket, after the great Sir Don Bradman.
He extended his third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith to 266 before Smith, standing in as captain for Pat Cummins, was out for 141.
Khawaja then added another 146 with Inglis, the 29-year-old born in Leeds. Inglis’ 102 is the first century on Test debut by an Australian man since Adam Voges in 2015.
The tourists were eventually able to declare on 654-6, their highest total in a Test in Asia.
After 154 overs in the field, in which they used only four different bowlers, Sri Lanka wilted in reply.
Oshada Fernando was lbw to Matthew Kuhnemann, the left-arm spinner opening the bowling as part of a three-pronged Australian spin attack.
Mitchell Starc, the sole frontline seamer for the tourists, had Dimuth Karunaratne superbly caught at the second attempt by sub fielder Nathan McSweeney at gully.
Travis Head then trumped McSweeney’s effort with a flying grab at short leg to hold Angelo Mathews off Nathan Lyon, leaving Sri Lanka 44-3, a massive 610 behind.
