Australia proved far beyond doubt that they are the best in the world in red ball cricket, and their birth in the WTC finals this summer in England is not by luck or accident but sheer skill levels to play in any condition.
With a strong batting line up, Steve Smith, the stand in Captain just needing a single run to his credit to join the greats like Brian Lara , Ricky Ponting , Kumar Sangakara and Satchin Tendulkar to score 10,000 runs in test cricket, was indeed, a much looked forward to achievement to the Cricketing fratinity in the world.
Both captains, namely Dhananjaya de Silva and Steve Smith, decided to play 3 spinners and one seamer on a slow dry pitch at Galle and have only one seamer as a specialist new ball bowler in the playing eleven.
Smith at the coin toss was quick to have a bat after winning the all-important call.
The exhibition of class test batsmanship was what was displayed by the Australian batters as they ended day one on 330 runs for 2 wickets at stumps.
Usman Kawaja remained unbeaten on 147, reaching his 16th test century, whilst Steven Smith remained unbeaten on 104 his 35 th century and accomplished the milestone of 10,000 runs in Test cricket in great style.
What a performance. Sri Lanka was guilty of missing out on DRS opportunities and poor catching which let Usman Kawaja off the hook when they failed to go in for a DRS check for a catch by the keeper including a slip nick to DDS at first slip that went a begging.
Steve Smith was dropped on nought when Prabath Jayasuriya could not hold on to a return catch off his own bowling.
Sri Lanka was forced to bowl negative as Smith and Khawaja entertained the big crowd at Galle with an exhibition of stroke play, which included 365 degrees of shots being executed to all parts of the park.
Sri Lankan spinners Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Nishan Pieris bowled well, but the Australian batters were far superior in their skills.
Travis Head made 57 and he too got away with an LBW dismissal batting on 32 when DDS refused to take the DRS review.
Labuchange made 20.
The Australian batters made 145 for 2 wickets at lunch, which is a fantastic strike rate , made 261 for 2 by tea , hence, the dominance is evident.
Sri Lankan bowling was negative in the third session. They had no choice, but that was the only option to stop the flow of runs.
Unless otherwise, Sri Lanka changes her script tomorrow bowling at Smith and Kawaja, a leather hunt is inevitable.