Cricket world blasts 'pathetic' move as Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja punish woeful Sri Lanka
Smith and Khawaja both made centuries on the opening day of the first Test in Galle.
Cricket fans and commentators have savaged the 'pathetic' and 'embarrassing' tactics that Sri Lanka resorted to on the opening day of the first Test against Australia. Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja both made centuries and piled on the runs after Australia won the toss on a flat pitch, with the tourists going to stumps at 2-330.
Smith brought up his 10,000th run in Test cricket when he got off the mark with a single, and went on to register his 35th hundred. Khawaja notched his first Test century in over 18 months and showed he still has plenty to offer at age 38.
While the cricket world was singing the Aussies' praises after a brilliant batting performance on day one, Sri Lanka are being shredded for their efforts in the field. Smith was dropped by Prabath Jayasuriya on 1, while Khawaja and Travis Head (57) both should have been dismissed early in their innings.
Sri Lanka opted against reviewing an lbw decision that showed Head was plumb in front, and they also failed to use a review when Khawaja should have been out caught behind. On both occasions the umpire gave the Aussies not out, before replays showed they were wrong.
Sri Lanka under fire over 'garbage' tactics
As well as the missed chances and failure to use DRS properly, Sri Lanka are also copping heat for some negative tactics in the final session. With Smith and Khawaja well set, the hosts resorted to setting leg-side fields and bowling outside the batters' pads to try and dry up the scoring.
Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis even set up outside the line of Smith's leg stump at one stage, with the Aussie batter padding up a number of times because he knew he couldn't get out lbw. While the Aussies scored at a lightning-fast rate in the first two sessions, the runs dried up in the evening because of the negative bowling.
Fans took to social media to decry the ordinary tactic, with many questioning why the umpires didn't demand the Sri Lankans bowl a more positive line. We say that happen in the recent series against India when Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins were warned for negative bowling in the first Test in Perth.
Sri Lanka spin-bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge explained at stumps: "It's a tough day in the office. It's not a usual Galle wicket. It's on the slower side but you can't put the blame on the wicket. When the wicket is not helping the bowlers, you should look for alternatives."
Extremely negative bowling by Sri Lanka at the moment #AUSvsSL not sure what the answer is but not great for the game.
— Heath Linton (@heathro37) January 29, 2025
Pathetic from Sri Lanka. Labuschagne pinged for negative bowling vs India after 2 leg side deliveries yet Jayasuriya has been at it since tea. Poor umpiring and poor play from a sub-standard team. #SLvAUS
— SteveSA (@stevesa70) January 29, 2025
I think the umps should have stepped in and warned Sri Lanka about continued negative bowling. Qudos to Aus for still managing to keep the scoreboard ticking over. I was surprised SL took the new ball to be honest.
— Shaun Amy (@ausnetman) January 29, 2025
Why is Sri Lanka bowling such negative garbage to Smith?
— Cricket Szn baybeee!!! (@DTMAnarchoMon) January 29, 2025
This is tepid garbage from Sri Lanka. Bowling wide outside leg stump inside the first day stinks.
— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) January 29, 2025
embarrassing bowling from Sri Lanka, they've given up already
— Aidan Fuller (@chopsta0415) January 29, 2025
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja help Aussies take control
Smith joined Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh as just the fourth Aussie to score 10,000 runs in Tests. And Khawaja's innings was the perfect response to those who questioned his Test future during a lukewarm home summer, with Michael Clarke declaring he should have retired after the fifth Test at the SCG.
"I'm not here for anyone but the team," the veteran opener said after stumps. "(Australia coach) Andrew McDonald, one thing last year he said to me, 'I don't care what happens, just make sure you're on the Sri Lankan tour'.
"I'm not just playing cricket because I've got a gluttony to score lots of runs. Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen hundreds is not going to make a difference to my life. When I finish this game, I've got beautiful kids and a family. I'm pretty chill with everything, but it's nice to get 100 after the summer because it was a tough time."
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Incredibly, Khawaja became just the second Australian batter after Border to score Test centuries in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. It came after selectors opted to drop teen sensation Sam Konstas and promote Head to open, with Josh Inglis debuting at No.5.