Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2024-25: Full Match Review & Key Takeaways

Australia Crushes Sri Lanka with a Record-Breaking Win in 1st Test

The Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2024-25 in Galle ended in a massive innings and 242-run victory for Australia, marking their biggest Test win in Asia. From Usman Khawaja’s unbeaten 232 to Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann’s spin magic, Australia dominated all three days, leaving Sri Lanka searching for answers.

Match Summary: AUS vs SL 1st Test 2024-25

Day 1: Australia’s Batting Masterclass

Winning the toss, Steve Smith opted to bat first. Travis Head (57 off 40 balls) gave Australia a blazing start, but the real destruction came from:
✅ Usman Khawaja (232 runs, unbeaten)* – A marathon innings, his highest Test score.
✅ Steve Smith (141 runs) – Solid as ever, crossed 10,000 Test runs.
✅ Josh Inglis (102 runs) – Maiden Test century, proving his value in the middle order.

By stumps, Australia had already crossed 500 runs, sending a strong statement.

Day 2: Australia Declares & Sri Lanka’s Batting Collapse

Australia declared at a commanding 654/6, their third-highest total in Asia.

🔹 Sri Lanka’s First Innings – All Out for 165

Nathan Lyon (3 wickets) & Matt Kuhnemann (3 wickets) tormented the Sri Lankan batters.
No batter managed to score a half-century, exposing the home side’s struggles against quality spin.

Trailing by 489 runs, Sri Lanka was forced to follow on.

Day 3: Australia’s Bowlers Seal a Historic Victory

Though Angelo Mathews (41) and Jeffrey Vandersay (52)* showed some fight, the result was inevitable.

✅ Lyon (4 wickets) and Kuhnemann (4 wickets) cleaned up Sri Lanka’s second innings for 247.
✅ Australia won by an innings and 242 runs, wrapping up the match in just 3 days.

📌📌(Josh Inglish And Usman Khawaja Batting MasterClass)

🏏 Usman Khawaja – The Star Batter

232 – His highest Test score, anchoring the innings brilliantly.
Continued his dominance in Asian conditions, displaying patience and class.

🏏 Steve Smith – The Milestone Man

Scored 141 runs, providing stability to Australia’s innings.
Became just the 14th player to cross 10,000 Test runs.

🏏 Josh Inglis – The Surprise Century-Maker

First Test century (102 runs), accelerating Australia’s score past 650.

🔥 Nathan Lyon – Sri Lanka’s Nightmare

7 wickets in the match, outfoxing Sri Lanka’s batters with his accuracy.
Became Australia’s leading wicket-taker in Sri Lanka, overtaking Shane Warne.

🔥 Matt Kuhnemann – The Emerging Spin Weapon

9 wickets in the match, proving to be Australia’s new spin threat in subcontinent

conditions.

Biggest Takeaways from AUS vs SL 1st Test 2024-25

1️⃣ Australia’s Historic Victory

✔ Largest Test win (by an innings) in Asia
✔ First time Australia declared beyond 650 in Asia
✔ Ruthless performance in all aspects – batting, bowling, and strategy

2️⃣ Controversy Over Sam Konstas’ Omission

Rising talent Sam Konstas was left out, despite his stellar domestic form.
Ricky Ponting questioned the selectors’ decision, urging Australia to invest in young talent.
However, Travis Head’s quickfire 57 justified the selection move.

3️⃣ Sri Lanka’s Struggles Continue

Batting failure: No batter crossed 50 in the first innings.
Ineffective bowling: Conceded 654 runs, unable to trouble Australia’s lineup.
Spin struggles: Despite playing at home, Sri Lanka’s spinners were outperformed by Lyon and Kuhnemann.

What’s Next? AUS vs SL 2nd Test 2024-25

Australia enters the second Test in Galle aiming to secure a 2-0 series win.

✅ For Australia: Can they continue their dominance and complete a series whitewash?
✅ For Sri Lanka: Can they fix their batting weaknesses and bounce back with a stronger performance?

The AUS vs SL 2nd Test 2024-25 will decide whether Sri Lanka can fight back or if Australia will completely seal the series.

Final Thoughts: A Perfect Test Match for Australia

🎯 Massive first-innings total (654/6 declared)
🎯 Centuries from Khawaja (232), Smith (141), and Inglis (102)*
🎯 Lyon (7 wickets) & Kuhnemann (9 wickets) dominated Sri Lanka
🎯 One of the most dominant wins in Australian Test history

With such a dominant performance, Australia has proven they are a force to be reckoned with in all conditions. The question now is – can Sri Lanka recover, or will Australia complete a clean sweep in the series?

👉 Stay tuned for the AUS vs SL 2nd Test 2024-25!