Courtesy: Google

Courtesy: Google

On Thursday, January 30, the Australian opener, Usman Khawaja, registered his maiden double hundred in the longest format of the game during the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. The 38-year-old, who had brought up his 16th Test hundred on the first day’s play, continued on his merry way in the morning session on day two, to get past the magical 200-run mark for the first-time in his Test career.

After providing an excellent start to the Australian first innings on day one alongside makeshift opener Travis Head, sharing a 92-run stand within the first 15 overs of the match, Usman Khawaja had a partnership of 43 runs for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne. Following that, Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith put together a 266-run stand for the third wicket, to put Australia in an excellent position in the first Test match.

Usman Khawaja's previous highest Test score was 195* vs South Africa

Steve Smith was dismissed for 141 runs in 251 balls with 12 fours and two maximums in the morning session on day two after bringing up his 35th Test hundred and going past 10,000 runs in the longest format of the game. But regardless, Usman Khawaja managed to keep his innings going alongside debutant Josh Inglis before reaching the double hundred milestone for the first-time in his career just before lunch on day two.

Usman Khawaja and Josh Inglis shared a stand of 146 runs for the fourth wicket, helping Australia get past 500 runs in their first innings at the loss of just three wickets, as of this writing, to set up a perfect platform to accelerate the scoring later in the day. Khawaja was dismissed after reaching 232 runs in 352 balls with 16 fours and one maximum, while Inglis brought up his maiden Test hundred on debut in 90 balls shortly after.

Moreover, Australia have already qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, which they will be playing against South Africa at the Lord’s in London in June this year, which is why the ongoing two-match series versus Sri Lanka is ideal for them to give some new players a chance in the Test arena.