The defending world champion Australians were closing in on a big win in Galle after enforcing the follow-on and reducing Sri Lanka to 75 for three in its second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket test on Saturday.

The rainy weather conditions have given Australia a selection problem for the opening test against Sri Lanka starting Wednesday, although one thing seems certain: Travis Head will open the batting

The 35-year-old, captaining the side in the absence of Pat Cummins, needed just one run in Galle to reach the milestone in Galle.

Opener Usman Khawaja's first double century and a ton on debut by Josh Inglis helped Australia to 654-6 declared on day two of the first match against Sri Lanka on Thursday. The 38-year-old struck his 16th Test ton on day one and resumed on 147 before becoming the first Australian batsman to make a double ton in Sri Lanka.