Australia shatter records with mammoth first-innings total in Galle
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in their last red-ball assignment ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final, and went on to make the most of the opportunity by posting their highest-ever total in Asia.
Newly promoted opener Travis Head got off to a characteristically aggressive start, smashing 57 off 40 balls before falling to Prabath Jayasuriya. Marnus Labuschagne added 20 runs before Jeffrey Vandersay claimed his maiden Test wicket.
The defining partnership came from Australian stalwarts Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, who put together a massive 266-run stand. Khawaja reached a career milestone with his maiden double century, while Smith not only notched another Test hundred but also became the 15th player in history to cross the 10,000 mark.
Josh Inglis had a dream debut, scoring a century in his first Test innings. Alex Carey contributed 43, while Beau Webster added 23 and Mitchell Starc chipped in with 19, helping Australia reach a massive 654 before declaring.
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