But that debate soon drowned out by Head’s percussive pounding of leather on willow. Certainly Khawaja, author of his 16th Test hundred, and Smith, who reached 10,000 runs first ball and went on to carve out his 35th hundred in Tests, did not complain about the way things were made easier by Head’s opening salvos.
Things may well have been different had the Sri Lankans been more resourceful with the opportunities that came their way. Head would have been given lbw on review to Fernando early on had Dhananjaya chosen to review a not out decision, and similarly Khawaja might have been caught behind off Prabath Jayasuriya (1-102).
Travis Head bats in Galle.Credit: Getty Images
Khawaja was also turfed at slip by Dhanajaya shortly before Jeffery Vandersay (1-93) nipped out Marnus Labuschagne with a leg break. The nadir arrived when Jayasuriya missed a return catch offered by Smith second ball – immediately after he had flicked to midwicket to belatedly raise 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Little wonder Jayasuriya hurled the ball to the turf in disgust.
Chances aside, Khawaja’s innings maintained an extraordinary recent record of success in this part of the world. He was decisive with his foot movement, liberal in his use of both orthodox and reverse sweeps, and maintained concentration for long periods.
Two days out from the match, Khawaja had a seemingly endless net session against local bowlers, honing his mental focus as much as technique. He slipped seamlessly into the kind of batting cocoon he occupied in Pakistan in 2022 and India in 2023, and now shares with Allan Border the distinction of being the only two Australians to have made Test hundreds in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Loading
At 38, Khawaja is not getting any younger. But the way he excelled in Galle tended to back up his assertion in Australia that struggles on home soil against India were less to do with waning powers than with simply getting “Bumrah’d” by the world’s premier fast bowler in helpful conditions for seamers.
Smith was briefly skittish at the start of his innings, eager to reach the milestone previously only passed by Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting among Australians. But over the final two sessions he was in complete control against anything the Sri Lankans hurled at him, barely mistiming a single ball.
After questions about Smith’s recent output and perhaps his motivation to continue, a volley of three centuries in four Tests has quietened those thoughts. Memories of a bad defeat here in 2016, and then the missed opportunity of a 1-1 tie in 2022, doubtless steeled him to go big.
Late in the day, a well-hydrated member of the crowd was apprehended by security after running onto the field with a banner exclaiming “Give Me Head”. The Australian selectors’ earlier request for him had certainly been answered in the affirmative.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
