Australian batter Josh Inglis made a sensational start to his Test career by scoring a century on debut against Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the first Test in Galle. Josh Inglis showcased an aggressive approach against the Sri Lankan bowling attack and became the second-fastest hundred by a debutant in Tests.
Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith resumed their innings at 330/2 on Thursday morning. They extended their partnership to 266 runs for the third wicket—Australia’s highest Test stand in Sri Lanka. The marathon stand was finally broken when leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay dismissed Smith for 141.
Josh Inglis Makes Sensational Start to His Test Career with Century on Debut
Josh Inglis dispatched his first delivery to the boundary and dominated Sri Lanka’s spinners with a variety of sweep shots. He built a crucial 146-run partnership with Khawaja for the fourth wicket. However, Khawaja’s resistance ended when Prabath Jayasuriya bowled a flatter delivery that took his outside edge.
Inglis reached his debut Test century in just 90 balls in the first innings. The batter brought up the milestone with a well-placed punch to deep extra cover. As he celebrated the historic moment, his proud parents were seen in the stands giving flying kisses to their son. The video has gained significant attention on social media platforms.
“That is going to be his hundred—Josh Inglis! What a memorable innings it has been. He becomes the 21st Australian to achieve this milestone, the third Australian to do it in Asia. I’ll tell you what, his parents will be extremely proud—and why not? It’s a big moment,” the commentator said.
“Josh Inglis, the 21st Australian to score a century on debut, and his parents are celebrating, hugging each other—that’s their way of showing their delight at their son’s great achievement.”
You can watch the video of the celebration below:
It’s a century on Test debut for Josh Inglis!
From just 90 balls, with 10 fours and a six, Inglis is the first Australian to make a century on Test debut since Adam Voges in 2015 #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/yFCXF74UK9
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 30, 2025
Josh Inglis Becomes 21st Australian to Score a Century on Test Debut
Josh Inglis became the 21st Australian cricketer to do so. The right-handed batter is the first Australian to score a Test century on debut since Adam Voges in 2015. Inglis’ entertaining knock ended when he charged at Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, edging the ball to cover and was dismissed for 102.
Inglis joined an elite group of Australian batters, including Greg Chappell, Mark Waugh, Michael Clarke, and Shaun Marsh, who have scored centuries on Test debut. The last three debutant centurions for Australia were all from Western Australia: Adam Voges (2015), Shaun Marsh (2011), and Marcus North (2009).
List of Six Visiting Batters with Hundreds on Test Debut in Sri Lanka
| No. | Batter | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fawad Alam | Pakistan | 2009 |
| 2 | Suresh Raina | India | 2010 |
| 3 | Shaun Marsh | Australia | 2011 |
| 4 | Mohammad Ashraful | Bangladesh | 2001 |
| 5 | Ben Foakes | England | 2018 |
| 6 | Josh Inglis | Australia | 2024 |
Also read: Usman Khawaja creates history with sensational double ton in Sri Lanka, becomes first Aussie to…