Exhausted after spending 154 overs in the field, openers Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne were dismissed within the first five overs.

With Mitchell Starc selected as Australia’s only frontline quick, there was intrigue over who would share the new ball with him. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, playing in his first Test match in almost two years, was an inspired choice and claimed Fernando lbw for 7 in his first over.

Bowling from around the wicket, Kuhnemann trapped him on the flap of his front pad as Fernando reviewed in vain. Kuhnemann was mightily pleased when the decision was upheld having made a speedy recovery from a thumb injury sustained in a BBL match on January 16.

Sri Lanka slid further when Karunaratne edged a short-of-a-length delivery from Starc to gully, where substitute fielder Nathan McSweeney completed a catch on the juggle having desperately turned around and dived after the ball bobbled over his head.

Having had little to do in the recent series against India, offspinner Nathan Lyon completed Australia’s near perfect day with the wicket of Angelo Mathews, who was brilliantly caught by a diving Travis Head at short leg.

Australia have completely capitalised on winning a favourable toss and batting first on a slow surface amid stifling humidity as they amassed their highest ever total against Sri Lanka.

Khawaja finished with 232 off 352 balls and fell early in the second session dominated by Inglis, who became the first Australian debutant to score a Test century since Adam Voges – his Western Australia coach – in 2015.

England-born Inglis reached his century off just 90 balls and he jumped high before punching the air with his proud parents visibly emotional in the terraces. He joined Michael Clarke and Shaun Marsh as Australian century-makers on Test debut in Asia.

Inglis showcased his proficiency against spin with decisive footwork either by skipping down the track or rocking back deep into the crease. His aggressiveness and maturity, having captained Australia in ODI and T20I cricket recently, reinforced why the selectors were keen to shoehorn him in the side.

Inglis, the Western Australia wicketkeeper playing as a specialist batter, celebrated his milestone with incumbent keeper Alex Carey at the crease before he fell on 102 having faced 94 balls.

Khawaja had earlier notched his highest Test score, overtaking his 195 not out against South Africa at the SCG in 2023 when rain forced an Australia declaration.

Khawaja and Smith were the fulcrum of Australia’s massive first innings, combining for a 266-run partnership. Smith was the only wicket to fall in the morning session after being trapped lbw for 141 by legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, Sri Lanka’s most threatening bowler.

Smith added 37 runs to his overnight tally after a momentous opening day where he became the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs en route to a 35th century.

The 38-year-old Khawaja celebrated his first Test double century just before lunch as he kneeled down and bowed to the turf as the fans, many of whom are Australians, applauded with gusto.

He had earlier overtaken Justin Langer’s 166 in Colombo in 2004 as the highest score by an Australian in Sri Lanka. Having struggled against spin earlier in his career in South Asia, Khawaja has become only the second Australian after Allan Border to make Test centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Khawaja has wound back the clock after an 18-month Test-century drought, having most recently against India struggled at the hands of tormentor Jasprit Bumrah.

Sri Lanka utilised just their four frontline bowlers with sole quick Asith Fernando bowling just 15 overs. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya was effectively blunted with 3 for 193 off 60 overs in a far cry from when he claimed 12 wickets against Australia on the same ground in 2022.

Sri Lanka’s attack were unable to counter Australia’s aggressive approach and stem the flow of runs. Their tardy performance in the field on the opening day, where they missed several opportunities to dismiss Khawaja and Smith, proved costly.

Australia resumed on 330 for 2 with play starting 15 minutes early after rain ended day one prematurely. After resorting to a defensive leg-stump tactic late on day one, Jayasuriya attacked the stumps and aimed to skid the second new ball on.

But after four overs, Smith had enough and showed his first signs of aggression by skipping down the wicket as the partnership passed 200 runs.

Khawaja unfurled the reverse sweep to good effect on day one, but was lucky on his first attempt in the morning’s play when he only just cleared Peiris over short third for a boundary.

A third straight wicketless session loomed for Sri Lanka until Vandersay deceived Smith with a delivery that straightened down the line and hit him on the back pad. Vandersay’s enthusiastic appeal was initially turned down, but the decision was overturned on review in a massive relief for Sri Lanka.

After waiting almost 100 overs, Inglis finally entered the crease as he chewed gum furiously awaiting his first delivery in Test cricket. He started in fine fashion with a boundary after whipping Vandersay through mid-on and was at ease against spin.

He showcased his confidence by skipping down the track and launching several blows down the ground to race to 44 at a run a ball pace by tea.

Fernando was handed the ball after the interval for the first time in the day’s play and tried to provide a spark for his flagging team. But his short delivery was treated with disdain by Inglis, brought up on the WACA’s fast and bouncy surface.

Inglis reached his half-century off 51 balls to become the third Australian debutant in as many Tests to reach that landmark, following in the footsteps of Beau Webster and Sam Konstas.

Shortly after the pair reached their 100-run partnership, Inglis was given out lbw on 58 off Nishan Peiris after being struck on the back leg having missed a reverse sweep. But he reviewed immediately and the decision was overturned with a nick on the bottom of the bat detected.

Inglis remained unflustered and continued attacking, but Khawaja’s indefatigable knock finally ended when Jayasuriya enticed an edge to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.

Inglis reached his ton with a push through the off-side before providing a simple catch to cover as Jayasuriya’s toil was again rewarded.

Australia ground Sri Lanka into the ground before Smith finally declared and batting suddenly became extremely difficult for the beleaguered home team.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 44 for 3 (Kamindu Mendis  13*, Dinesh Chandimal 9*; Mitchell Starc 1-10, Mathew Khuneman 1-26, Nathan Lyon 1-7) trail Australia 654 for 6 dec in 154 overs (Usman Khawaja 232, Steven Smith 141, Josh Inglis 102, Travis Head 57;  Jeffrey Vandersay 3-182, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-193) by 610 runs

[Cricinfo]