Sri Lanka is staring down the barrel at 44-3 after Australia achieved its largest ever total in Asia — 654-6 declared — on day two of the first test in Galle.

Australian selectors have defied the urgings of former Test captain Ricky Ponting to stick with teen star Sam Konstas in Sri Lanka and elevated Travis Head to open the batting in Wednesday’s first Test in Galle.

Usman Khawaja had the time of his life with the bat in the first Test against Sri Lanka notching up his maiden double century. In the process, he also broke Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record in the island nation before being dismissed for 232 runs.