Australia Smash Highest-Ever Total in Asia: 654/6 Declared
Australia made history by scoring their highest-ever Test total in Asia, declaring a mammoth 654/6 against Sri Lanka at Galle. That was a remarkable innings where Usman Khawaja scored a double ton and Josh Inglis scored a century on his Test debut. At stumps on Day 2, Australia had taken full command of the first Test of the Warne-Murali trophy, with Sri Lanka reeling at 44/3.
Khawaja's Record-Breaking Knock
Usman Khawaja stood out with the bat, making 232 off 352 deliveries, the highest by a batsman in Sri Lanka for Australia. His innings are now the third-highest ever by a visiting batter in Sri Lanka, behind only Chris Gayle’s 333 and Stephen Fleming’s 274*.
Highest Individual Scores by a Visiting Batter in Sri Lanka
| Player | Runs | Team | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Gayle | 333 | WI | Galle | 2010/11 |
| S Fleming | 274* | NZ | Colombo (PSS) | 2003 |
| U Khawaja | 232 | AUS | Galle | 2024/25 |
| J Root | 228 | ENG | Galle | 2020/21 |
| B Lara | 221 | WI | Colombo (SSC) | 2001/02 |
| S Shakeel | 208* | PAK | Galle | 2023 |
| S Tendulkar | 203 | IND | Colombo (SSC) | 2010 |
Khawaja became a Test double-centurion in his 142nd innings, the joint-sixth slowest in cricket history. Allan Border (159 innings) was the only Australian to take longer. It is also the highest first-class score for Khawaja, eclipsing his previous best of 214.
At 38 years old, he became the third-oldest batter in history to score a double century in Asia, behind Vinoo Mankad & Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Josh Inglis' Dream Debut
Josh Inglis made an immediate impact, scoring a century on his Test debut. At At 29 years old, he became the 21st Australian batter to score a Test century on debut and the third Australian to achieve this feat in Asia.
Fastest Centuries on Test Debut (Balls Faced)
| Player | Balls | Final Score | Against | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S Dhawan | 85 | 187 | AUS | Mohali | 2012/13 |
| J Inglis | 90 | 102 | SL | Galle | 2024/25 |
| D Smith | 93 | 105* | SA | Cape Town | 2003/04 |
| P Shaw | 99 | 134 | WI | Rajkot | 2018/19 |
Inglis’ century came in just 90 balls, making it the second-fastest century on Test debut after Shikhar Dhawan’s 85-ball century in 2013.
Smith's Milestone and Record Partnership
Steven Smith contributed 141 off 251 balls, forming a 266-run third-wicket stand with Khawaja. This partnership is now:
- The highest partnership for any wicket by Australia in Sri Lanka.
- The third-highest partnership by Australia in Asia.
- The highest non-Asian partnership against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.
Highest Partnerships for Australia in Sri Lanka
| Partners | Wicket | Runs | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U Khawaja - S Smith | 3rd | 266 | Galle | 2024/25 |
| M Hussey - S Marsh | 4th | 258 | Pallekele | 2011 |
| S Marsh - S Smith | 2nd | 246 | Colombo (SSC) | 2016 |
| S Katich - J Langer | 6th | 218 | Colombo (SSC) | 2003/04 |
| D Lehmann - D Martyn | 4th | 206 | Galle | 2003/04 |
Smith also became the fifth-fastest player to reach 10,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone in 205 innings.
Australia's Record-Breaking Total
- Their highest Test total in Asia, surpassing 617 vs Pakistan (1980, Faisalabad).
- The second-highest total by a visiting team in Sri Lanka, behind India’s 707 at Colombo SSC (2010).
Key Bowling Figures for Sri Lanka
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| P Jayasuriya | 60 | 193 | 3 |
| N Peiris | 54 | 189 | 0 |
| J Vandersay | 50 | 182 | 3 |
This was only the second instance in Test history where three bowlers conceded 180+ runs in a single innings.
Match Highlights
- This was also the Australians’ highest Test score in Asia, beating their previous record of 617.
- Usman Khawaja’s 232 constituted the highest Test score by an Australian in Sri Lanka and the third-highest by a visiting batter in the country.
- Josh Inglis scored a century on his Test debut (102 off 90 balls) — the 21st Australian to score a hundred on debut.
- The stand of 266 between Smith and Khawaja is the highest Australian partnership for any wicket in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka has a bowler with 654 runs. Three of its bowling gave over 180 runs each.
Conclusion
Australia’s commanding 654/6 declared in Galle showcased their dominance in subcontinental conditions. For Sri Lanka, it was a test of endurance, with Prabath Jayasuriya’s 60-over effort highlighting their struggle. At 44/3 by stumps, their challenge now is survival against a spinning pitch and Australia’s potent attack. If they fail to mount a fightback, this Test could be remembered as one of Australia’s most dominant performances in Asia.
Australia’s dominant batting display has ensured the home side is well on top in the first Warne-Murali Trophy Test. Sri Lanka is 44/3, needs 455 to avoid the follow-on. Australia’s monumental innings leaves them on the verge of a huge win with three full days remaining in the Test.
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