Dropped catches, missed reviews,pathetic fielding of sri Lankan side lead half-centuries for Travis Head and Steve Smith, and a century to Usman Khawaja put Australia on top of Sri Lanka on day one of the first Test in Galle.Half centuries by Usman Khawaja (65*) and Travis Head (57) confirmed Australia took an early advantage on the first morning of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. On a pitch with assistance for the spinners, the openers brought up a 92-run opening stand with Head being the aggressor and get his (50) of just 35 balls. Furthermore, Steve Smith brought up 10,000 Test runs and become the fourth Australian cricketer to do that. .Australia having made a big change to their openers with Head partnering Khawaja, were off the blocks in a flash after opting to bat. Asitha Fernando erred in line in the first over and was made to pay by the former who dispatched him for three fours. The rollicking start allowed Khawaja to be more circumspect in his approach after his recent struggles in the format.
Australia’s skipper has raced after the lunch break and is already up to his 50, this one coming from only 57 deliveries. He seems to be picking Vandersay well and is taking advantage of Jayasuriya’s bad balls. He is also using his feet very well.Smith, who is batting imperiously, dances down to chip Vandersay over wide mid-on for four. That brings up a rapid hundred partnership from 115 balls.. Smith scored solitary run needed off his first delivery before the lunch break to join Ricky pointing, Allan Border and steve Waugh as the only Australian’s to achieve the milestone.
Australian selectors decided to drop Sam Konstas and josh inglis has received his Test debut and three spinners will be unleashed in Galle. Australia’s selectors made those major decisions for the first Test against Sri Lanka, beginning on Wednesday afternoon.
A day after it was confirmed Travis head would take Konstas’ spot at the top of the order alongside Usman Khawaja, it’s turned out, as expected, that Konstas has been dropped altogether and Inglis is slotting into the middle order.