Sam Konstas and Scott Boland calls vindicated as Aussies trounce Sri Lanka in first Test in Galle

Australia have smashed a previous Test record as certain controversial selection decisions paid massive dividends.

Australian selectors' decision to drop Sam Konstas has been vindicated as Australia trounced Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. Image: Getty

Australia have officially recorded their biggest ever Test win in Asia, smashing Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the series opener in Galle.

On an incredible day four, the visitors took 15 wickets on either side of enforcing the follow-on to wrap up the first of two Tests by tea.

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Sri Lanka (165, 247) barely made a dent in Australia’s 6d-654 and the tourists never looked in any danger of losing on the back of stellar first innings knocks by Usman Khawaja (232), Steve Smith (141) and Josh Inglis (102).

The win also saw Australia set a new record in Asia, surpassing their innings and 198-run record over Pakistan in the UAE in 2002.

And as for selectors, their controversial decisions to drop Scott Boland and Sam Konstas were well and truly vindicated.

Australian selectors' decision to drop Sam Konstas has been vindicated as Australia trounced Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. Image: Getty

In place of Konstas, Travis Head was promoted to open the batting with Josh Inglis brought into the middle order.

And didn’t they both produce.

Head’s aggression and ability to play spin got the Aussies off to a flyer as he finished with 57 off 40 in his sole innings.

Inglis brought up his century before falling for 102 off just 94 balls, in an innings that featured an incredible 12 boundaries.

While the decision to go with Matt Kuhnemann over an in-form Boland was equally controversial in the lead-up to the first Test.

The Victorian quick was arguably the pick of Australia’s bowlers against India, snaring 21 wickets in three matches at an impressive average of just 13.19.

Matthew Kuhnemann (L) was the pick of the bowlers in the first Test. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

But again the selectors undoubtedly got it right to go with Kuhnemann instead.

The spinner nabbed 5/63 in the first innings against Sri Lanka and backed it up with 4/86 in the second as he finished with the most wickets of the Aussies in the match.

The win is Australia’s fourth-largest in history behind victories over South Africa in 2002, England in 1946 and South Africa in 1950.

While on the flip side, the loss is Sri Lanka’s largest in Test history, eclipsing the defeat by an innings and 239 runs at the hands of India in 2017.

So while selectors don’t always get it right, they can give themselves a pat on the back this time around.