Usman Khawaja walked off the field in Galle with a quiet sense of satisfaction, his bat raised in acknowledgment of the applause. He had just reached 150, a milestone that, in many ways, was more than just a number on the scoreboard. It was a statement—one that silenced doubters and reaffirmed his place in Australia’s Test setup.
Just a few weeks ago, the veteran opener found himself at the center of scrutiny. A lean run against India had led to calls for his exit, with former Test captain Michael Clarke even suggesting that retirement was a conversation worth having. But on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Khawaja answered those criticisms in the best way possible—with his bat.
The Day That Belonged to Khawaja and Smith
Australia’s decision to bat first on a dry, turning track in Galle was bold, but Khawaja and Steve Smith made it look like the easiest of surfaces. By the end of the first day, Australia was sitting comfortably at 399/2, with Khawaja unbeaten on 174 and Smith on 128. The partnership between the two had not only put Australia in command but also rewritten history books.
Khawaja’s 167 became the highest score by an Australian opener in Sri Lanka, surpassing Justin Langer’s 166. He later crossed the 180-run mark, etching his name among the top three Australian Test scores in the country. His innings was a lesson in patience, shot selection, and resilience—qualities that had once made him indispensable to the Australian top order.
“I’m not here for anyone but the team,” Khawaja said after reaching his century. “A lot of people have had opinions on what I should do, but at the end of the day, I just love playing cricket. I’ll contribute as long as I can and then give back in other ways.”
Smith’s Milestone and Marnus’ Struggles
While Khawaja dominated the headlines, Smith had his own moment of glory. With a crisp cover drive off Nishan Peiris, he became just the 15th cricketer in history to cross 10,000 Test runs. In doing so, he joined an elite club that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Brian Lara.
But while Smith and Khawaja flourished, Marnus Labuschagne’s struggles continued. Once averaging over 70 in Tests, Labuschagne has found runs hard to come by in the past two years. His latest dismissal—a soft edge to slip for a single-digit score—has fueled debates over whether Australia needs to look beyond him at No. 3.
The Road Ahead for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, was left searching for answers. Their bowlers toiled in the heat but found little success. The conditions offered some turn and reverse swing, but the experienced Australian duo was unfazed. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva will need something special from his team on Day 2 to pull things back.
For now, though, the story of the match remains Usman Khawaja’s resurgence—a reminder that class is permanent and that true cricketers let their bats do the talking.