Marnus tips Smith's ton will 'open the floodgates'

On the day when Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith finally tonned up together in the same Test, the student has tipped the master to re-embark on another run-scoring spree.

By Labuschagne's reckoning, the man he famously replaced as a concussion sub three years ago arrived at the seaside Galle ground on Friday morning with a zeroed-in look resembling the Smith of old.

The 33-year-old lived up to the billing as he piled on a flawless century against Sri Lanka and has the chance to go even bigger when he resumes his innings on 109no on day two.

Both Labuschagne, who was out for 104 in the second session, and Smith entered the second Test with a point to prove; the former having never previously reached triple-figures away from home, the latter having not made a ton in 18 months.

And Labuschagne admitted the manner of their exits in their series-opening win, him to a reverse-sweep for 13 and Smith to a run out for six, had only increased a feeling of underachievement.

"Both of us felt like we'd left some runs out there for the last few Tests," Labuschagne told reporters at stumps on day one with Australia 5-298. "So it was nice to cash in when we got an opportunity.

Image Id: F332CF6AB465471F9C0FB2BA6E06D0DD Image Caption: Steve Smith celebrates his 28th Test century and first in 546 days // Getty

"From last week I was very disappointed … and obviously 'Smudge' (Smith) got run out, so that would have been very frustrating.

"The boys said this morning when he rocked up to the ground, he was in the 'Smudge' headspace and he looked locked in."

So it proved, as Smith dominated an overhauled Sri Lankan attack only featuring one of its members from the first Test.

It was the right-hander's first hundred since his 131 against India at the SCG during the 2020-21 home summer, having since struggled to replicate the awesome heights that peaked during the 2019 Ashes when Labuschagne also first made his mark in international cricket.

Having developed a rare bond and a reputation as Australian cricket's quirkiest duo, Labuschagne believes Smith's breakthrough ton could be the start of another golden run.

"With someone of his calibre it almost never feels like he's out of form," said the 28-year-old.

"For him and the standard he's set … is so high that when that standard drops a little bit, his expectations are still at that really high level.

"He's just a very harsh critic on himself and he set a standard for Australia for the last eight or nine years.

"So I never go 'Jeez, he's not hitting the ball well'. He was just a bit short of runs and then it's just a confidence thing.

"Getting that one today I think is really going to open up the floodgates and he could have a really big next 10 Tests or however many we have in the next year.

"I think it's just a nice relief to get the three figures."

Smith and Labuschagne have been Australia's most prolific top-order pair of recent years, are the ICC's current No.2 and 3-ranked Test batters and are typically the last two players to leave the nets at training.

But they have surprisingly often scored their runs without the other at the crease.

Their 134-run partnership against Sri Lanka was their second highest in Tests, having only put on more than 100 six times previously despite both being Australia's two most consistent run-getters in their 22 Tests together.

"Now I'm thinking about it, it's usually one of us getting out and one getting get a big score," said Labuschagne.

"It was really nice to spend some time together there. We haven't batted together for a century partnership in a few Tests."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

June 29 - July 3: Australia won by 10 wickets

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports