Joe Burns, Travis Head break Australia's century drought

It had been six Tests since an Australian batsman reached the 90s, let alone a century. Their last triple-figure score came from the willow of Usman Khawaja, when he scored a magnificent 141 in Dubai to save a Test against Pakistan in early October.

Since then, none of Australia's batsmen had been able to get past 80, including in the five Tests at home before this game. However, when it rained, it poured as both Burns and Head scored over 150 on Friday, marking a fine day for the home side on the venue's maiden day of Test cricket.

Head had joined Burns at a difficult time after a top-order failure. The duo were a bit edgy early on, but when they got into the act, they belted every single lose delivery, of which there were many by an injury-hit Sri Lankan outfit.

Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera were already ruled out from the game through injury, and on the morning of the Test, Suranga Lakmal was ruled out as well with a niggle. In came Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne and Kasun Rajitha.

Fernando and Karunaratne were excellent with the new ball. Marcus Harris was the first to fall, chipping a drive off Fernando to cover for 11. Khawaja, who's been enduring a lean patch since the UAE tour, was dismissed for nought as he poked at a Fernando outswinger. Then, Marnus Labuschagne was caught behind for six off debutant Karunaratne.

After such a roaring start to the contest, Sri Lanka would've hoped to do more against a batting line-up that has been under-performing. Instead, they were met with a period of excellent batting, and they didn't help themselves with all the chances they dropped.

The first was offered by Burns before he had reached his fifty, when he played the cut to off-spinner Dilruwan Perera from too close to his body, only managing an edge which was put down by Dhananjaya de Silva at first slip.

Head was given a life closer to his century, when he slashed at one from Rajitha only to be put down by Dilruwan Perera. Head offered another chance while he was on the cusp of 150, but de Silva put that down again off his own bowling.

The Sri Lankan bowlers lost their sting as the day progressed, especially after the swing dissipated. Fernando struggled with his areas after that early burst, and the batsmen cashed in. Rajitha and Karunaratne weren't much better either.

The spinners, Perera and de Silva, were unable to make too much of an impact either, with the pitch offering little by way of turn. Both batsmen were particularly severe on the short stuff, Burns specialising in the pull and Head with the cut.

Burns was the first to reach his century, bringing it up off just the 147th delivery he faced. Head brought up his milestone with a lovely drive to beat mid-off after Perera sent down a full toss.

They increased the aggression after reaching their centuries, and it was only when Fernando pinned Head in front of stumps for 161 that the assault ended.

It could've been a case of one wicket bringing two, but Kurtis Patterson was given a life at short-leg on his very first delivery after edging a straighter one from de Silva. He batted solidly after that to reach stumps at 25.

Burns, meanwhile, had 172 to his name, and will look to add at least 28 runs to that score on the second morning of the Test. Sri Lanka will have their work cut out.