Sri Lanka's Blunders Gift Australia Early Advantage in Galle Test

Sri Lanka's Blunders Gift Australia Early Advantage in Galle Test

The first day of the first Test in Galle saw Australia capitalise on a series of Sri Lankan blunders to take an early advantage.

Konstas' Axing Raises Eyebrows

The axing of young opener Sam Konstas just months after his selection raised questions, with former captain Ricky Ponting expressing his disappointment. Ponting argued that Konstas should have been given more opportunities to prove himself, especially with the Ashes looming later in the year.

Sri Lanka's Costly Review Errors

Sri Lanka's poor use of reviews proved costly on day one. They missed two clear lbw opportunities against Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, allowing both batsmen to continue their innings and contribute significantly to Australia's score.

Smith Reaches Milestones and Sri Lanka Drops Catches

Steve Smith celebrated a personal milestone by reaching 5,000 Test runs away from home. However, Sri Lanka's fielding woes overshadowed his achievement. They dropped three catches, including two off Usman Khawaja, handing Australia valuable extra runs.

Sri Lanka's Negative Tactics Backfire

Frustrated by their inability to contain Australia's scoring, Sri Lanka resorted to negative tactics in the final session. They bowled wide outside leg stump, slowing the run rate but failing to take wickets. This approach drew criticism from umpire Chris Gaffaney, who intervened to encourage a more attacking line.

Australia Capitalizes on Sri Lanka's Mistakes

Australia capitalized on Sri Lanka's mistakes to end the day in a strong position. They will look to build on their lead on day two and put further pressure on the hosts.