Australia produced their best first-innings display in almost two years to roll Sri Lanka for 144 on day one of the pink-ball Test at the Gabba.

Criticised for their lack of discipline against India, Australia’s bowlers ran through the tourists with consistent lines and subtle movements on Thursday afternoon.

Seven of the first eight wickets came from edges behind the wicket, as Pat Cummins claimed 4-39 after debutant Jhye Richardson tore through the top order to finish with 3-26.

Richardson was the star after he produced the delivery of the day to knock over Kusal Mendis for 14, the ball swinging in before nipping away to take the off-stump.

It headlined a dream start to Test cricket for the young West Australian, who made Dinesh Chandimal his first scalp when the Sri Lankan captain edged to second slip on five.

Dhananjaya de Silva was his other victim, also edging an outswinger on five, while Mitchell Starc have claimed two wickets each and Nathan Lyon one.

The effort marked the first time Australia had dismissed a team for less than 150 in their first innings since February 2017.

After Sri Lanka won the toss, Cummins got the breakthrough when he had Lahiru Thirimanne edging for 12.

The Aussie quick also nicked off Roshen Silva for nine and then got Sri Lanka’s top-scorer in Niroshan Dickwella for 64 at deep mid-off after dinner.

Dickwella had produced an audacious knock, at one stage scooping Starc for six as he put on a lone resistance for Sri Lanka.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne was the only other tourist to pass 20 but he fell to a Lyon ball that fizzed off the pitch and caught his glove on the way to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

Starc became the 17th Australian to pass 200 Test wickets when he had Dilruwan Perera caught at third slip for one, before claiming Suranga Lakmal in his following over for seven.

Australian Associated Press