Australia beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test in Galle – statistically, the host’s worst defeat in history – to maintain their hold on the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
It was a victory of many fathers. Our player ratings show who were the chief architects of the win.
Usman Khawaja produced his highest Test score at the age of 38.Credit: AP
Usman Khawaja 10
Maintained his recent supremacy in south Asia by gliding to his highest Test score (232) and first double century, joining Allan Border as the only two Australians with centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Has gone a long way towards securing his position for the Ashes next summer, albeit in different conditions.
Steve Smith 9
An excellent century with the bat, taking him past 10,000 runs in Tests, and a masterly tactical display in the field. While Pat Cummins is a world-class leader for Australia, Smith’s alertness to angles and field placings in spinning conditions make him the perfect deputy/substitute.
Jopsh Inglis’ adaptable batting skills shone in the spinning conditions.Credit: Getty Images
Josh Inglis 9
Can do no more on debut than crack a century in just 90 balls, and Inglis looked right at home. Made the absolute most of an opportunity that was somewhat less challenging than that presented to Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas at home to India. Took his first Test catch as well.
Nathan Lyon 9
Kept unrelenting pressure on Sri Lanka’s batters in both innings and was rewarded with handsome figures. Galle will always be a special place for Lyon, the venue of his Test debut in 2011, and his evolution into a fine spinner in all conditions has been marked by his improvement on this ground.
Travis Head 8
Punched the Sri Lankan bowlers in the mouth with a hyper-aggressive start to the Test after being promoted to open with Khawaja. While Head was annoyed to be caught on the boundary for 57, the fact it came from 40 balls set the tourists on their way. Also had a fine game as a close-in catcher.
Alex Carey 8
Matthew Kuhnemann spun Australia to an emphatic Test-match win in Galle.Credit: AP
Made useful runs and then kept wicket neatly, a very useful ally for the spin bowlers with three stumpings for the match. Will perhaps be under some pressure for his spot from Inglis, but did very little wrong here.
Matt Kuhnemann 8
A superb performance in any context, but an even better one given he was in hospital for right thumb surgery only a couple of weeks ago. Has proven himself as the ideal foil for Lyon in south Asian conditions, finding bite and bounce to challenge both the outside edge and the stumps.
Mitchell Starc 7
Did everything required of him as an impact pace bowler in conditions where the spinners did the bulk of the work, getting some fiendish swing at times with the help of the sea breeze and also getting disconcerting bounce on occasion.
Beau Webster 6
Did not have much to do but did so very well. Played confidently in his brief stay at the batting crease and also fielded well with his vast wingspan in close. Did not have to bowl.
Todd Murphy 5
Bowled one classic new ball delivery to defeat Dimuth Karunaratne but otherwise did not quite find his rhythm in Galle, his first Test match since recuperating from a shoulder problem after a busy 2023.
Marnus Labuschagne 3
Was the one specialist batter to miss out on runs in the first innings, fooled by the wrist spinner Jeffrey Vandersay. Will want to make a substantial score in the second Test as the field for batting berths gets increasingly competitive.
