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Cricket World Player of the Week - Usman Khawaja, Australia

©REUTERS

Monday 3 February 2025

Australia had Sri Lanka three down after opener Usman Khawaja's first double century and a ton on debut by Josh Inglis helped the tourists to 654-6 declared in the first match on Thursday.

Khawaja's 266-run third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith, who hit 141 in a landmark innings that got the stand-in skipper to 10,000 Test runs, stood out after Australia elected to bat first at the start of the two-match series.

Khawaja took a single off Jayasuriya to reach 200 as he removed his helmet, raised his bat and dropped down to kiss the turf while teammates and fans stood up to applaud.

Sri Lanka suffered their heaviest Test defeat to date today, surpassing the defeat, in Nagpur in 2017, when they were hammered by an innings and 239 runs by India - Australia won by an innings and 242 runs.