Usman Khawaja smashes maiden Test double century against Sri Lanka in Galle

Usman Khawaja delivered a masterclass in batting as he notched up his maiden double century in Test cricket during the first session on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday. The Australian opener played a sublime knock of 232 runs off 352 balls, striking 16 boundaries and one six, before being eventually dismissed.

His innings not only marked his highest-ever score in Test cricket, surpassing his previous best of an unbeaten 195 against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2023, but also saw him rewrite history. The 38-year-old surpassed Justin Langer’s record for the most runs scored by an Australian batter in Sri Lanka, eclipsing Langer’s 166-run effort at Colombo in 2004.

Khawaja’s brilliance was complemented by stand-in skipper Steve Smith as the duo forged a historic third-wicket partnership, breaking a 46-year-old record. Their stand of 222 runs on Asian soil eclipsed the previous best of 222, set by Allan Border and Kim Hughes against India at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in 1979. Smith eventually departed after an impressive 141-run knock off 251 balls, which included 12 fours and two sixes.

Smith had already made history on the opening day of the Test, reaching his 35th Test century and becoming only the fourth Australian to surpass 10,000 runs in the longest format. He achieved the milestone in the first innings of the match, joining an elite club of Australian greats, including Ricky Ponting (13,378), Allan Border (11,174), and Steve Waugh (10,927). Overall, Smith became just the 15th player in Test cricket history to reach the landmark.

With his 35th Test hundred, Smith surpassed legends such as Younis Khan (Pakistan), Brian Lara (West Indies), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), and Sunil Gavaskar (India), all of whom had 34 centuries each. His career numbers continue to be staggering, with 10,140 runs in 115 Tests at an average of 56.33, including 35 centuries and 41 fifties, with a best score of 239.

In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, Smith has been among the top performers for Australia, amassing 1,193 runs at an average of 38.48. He has struck four centuries and four fifties in 34 innings, with a highest score of 140. His performance places him as the sixth-highest run-getter in the tournament so far, second only to Usman Khawaja among Australian batters.