Australia in Sri Lanka: Milestones tumble as Aussie batters grind Sri Lankans into Galle dirt

Australia’s near-two-day epic has seen milestones tumble in Sri Lanka as Usman Khawaja struck a maiden double century, Steve Smith reached 10,000 Test runs, and WA’s Josh Inglis cracked a debut ton.

Smith had an anxious wait for his incredible milestone after being dismissed a run short in Sydney but ensured no one would ever forget it as he went on to his 35th Test century.

Alongside Khawaja, who made up for the heartbreak of being declared on while unbeaten on 195 in 2023, Smith was the driving force behind the pair, breaking Michael Hussey and Shaun Marsh’s record for the largest partnership in Sri Lanka.

Australia also set the second-largest total ever in Galle when they declared at 6-654.

Here are some of the milestones Australia achieved in the first innings.

• Australia’s all-time largest run total for a single innings in Asia (Previous record: 617 v Pakistan in 1980)
• The second-largest team total scored at Galle
• Steve Smith the 15th player to hit 10,000 Test runs and now 13th highest of all time
• Usman Khawaja’s highest total in a single innings (232, beating previous record of 195* v South Africa in 2023)
• Khawaja becomes third oldest double centurian this century
• Khawaja joins Sir Don Bradman as only batter aged over 38 to hit 200
• Josh Inglis makes second fastest debut century (90 balls, behind record of 85)
• Past four Australians to make a century on debut are all West Australian after Inglis’ ton
• Australia’s highest Test partnership in Sri Lanka (266 runs for the third wicket between Khawaja and Smith)
• Australia’s third highest partnership in Asia
• Fifth highest all-time third-wicket partnership in Tests