Cooper Connolly’s mum breaks down during baggy green presentation

Australian debutant Cooper Connolly was handed his baggy green ahead of the day’s play, but it was his mum who pinched the spotlight.

The opening day of the second Test belonged to Australia as Sri Lanka survived the day to be 9/229.

Ahead of the day’s play however it was Australian debutant Cooper Connolly who was overshadowed by his mum in Galle.

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The 21-year-old was handed baggy green number 471 by Simon Katich as the moment became too much for his mum.

“I found out last night. I was pretty chuffed, as a kid you dream of putting on the baggy green so to get that moment today was unreal,” Connolly said on Channel 7.

“Mum was crying … bless her. She’s done a lot of things for me, so has my dad. So yeah it was nice to share that moment with my mum and dad.”

Cooper Connolly after being presented with his baggy green. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

When play got underway, Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first appeared to be the correct call.

The hometown side went into the lunch break having lost only one wicket, but it all went pear-shaped for them as the Aussies grabbed the momentum with both hands in the second session.

Only 57 runs were added to the total as Australia claimed four wickets to leave the locals at 5-144 at the tea break.

Nathan Lyon lead the charge with three wickets while Mitchell Starc and Travis Head picked up one wicket apiece.

The Aussies took control of the Test in the second session. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

Despite having the momentum behind them, the Aussies couldn’t capitalise as Sri Lanka fought back in the early stages after the tea break.

After the sixth wicket fell with Sri Lanka having only 150 runs on the board, the Aussies hoped to have their rivals dispatched for less than 200.

Kusal Mendis and Ramesh Mendis had other ideas however as they flipped the script and built a 65-run stand.

Then Mitchell Starc entered the frame with the new ball in hand. A loose leave from Ramesh saw the ball clip the outside edge before Prabath Jayasuriya was sent on his way for a golden duck after edging a ball to Steve Smith in second slip.

Sadly the hat-trick delivery swung away outside offstump with Nishan Peiris leaving his bat a long way clear of the ball.

The second day of play from Galle will get underway from 3:30pm (AEDT) with Australia needing one more wicket.

Originally published as Cooper Connolly’s mum breaks down during baggy green presentation