Sri Lanka v Australia 1st Test, Day 1 – Statistical Highlights

Sri Lanka and Australia Test series started off on a turner at Pallekele as the Australian bowlers bowled out the hosts, for just 119 in less than 1 and a half session after skipper Angelo Mathews elected to bat first. Australia lost their openers early on but Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja made sure they didn’t lose any more wickets till the end of the Lunch session. The final session was completely washed out by rain. Here we look at all the stats and records recorded during the day’s play.

1 – For the first time in a Test match in Sri Lanka, openers of both the sides got out in single digits in the first innings. Last time something similar happened was in 2006 at Johannesburg during South Africa and India game. This is the 19th such instance in overall.

1 – Lakshan Sandakan is now the 1st Chinaman bowler to feature in an International game for Sri Lanka.

4 – Wickets lost by Sri Lanka in the first 15 overs. Last time they lost 4 or more wickets in first 15 overs in the first innings of a Test at home was in 2006 against Pakistan.

Also read – SL v AUS, 1st Test, Day 1 Review: Rains halts play after Sri Lanka tumble

6 – Dhananjaya de Silva’s first scoring shot in Test cricket was a six. He became the first Sri Lankan to get off the mark in Test cricket with a six.

34.2 – Number of overs Sri Lanka’s first innings lasted in this game. The fewest they have played in the first innings of Test match after electing to bat first. Previous shortest was 38.2 overs vs South Africa at Cape Town in 2001.

117 – Sri Lanka’s total in this game is their 3rd lowest total in the first innings of a Test match after electing to bat first. 2nd such lowest total at home.

2003 – Last time 2 players made their debut for Sri Lanka in the same Test was in 2003 vs New Zealand at Colombo. Lokuarachchi and Nissanka made their debut in that Test match while Dhananjaya de Silva and Lakshan Sandakan made their debut in this Test against Australia.

2006 – Last time Sri Lanka was bowled out in less than 34.2 overs at home was against Pakistan in 2006 at Kandy. They were bowled out for 73 in 24.5 overs in the 2nd innings of that game.

2014 – Last time before Dhananjaya de Silva a player got off the mark with six on Test debut was New Zealand’s Mark Craig in June 2014. He also hit a six off the first ball he faced.