The Ashes mind games have begun, with English supporters launching a stunning accusation against Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith after their record-breaking heroics in Sri Lanka. Usman Khawaja played the greatest innings of his Test career to help Australia tighten the screws on Sri Lanka in a series opener fast slipping away from the hosts. Khawaja (232), milestone man Steve Smith (141) and debutant Josh Inglis (102) feasted in Galle on day two as Australia declared on 6-654, their largest total for any innings on the subcontinent.

Sri Lanka (3-44) then lost three wickets within an hour and could have been four down had substitute fielder Nathan McSweeney held onto Dinesh Chandimal's edge above the slips. But English fans were not impressed, firing shots at the Aussies as the build-up to this summer's Ashes series ramping up early. The banter started courtesy of an English supporter named Alasdair, who accused the Aussie top order of using the Sri Lankan tour to extend their careers.

Usman Khawaja endured a horror series against India but rebounded to post a career-best double ton against Sri Lanka. Steve Smith also posted a big ton in his return to the captaincy after Pat Cummins elected to remain at home for the birth of his second child. 'Sri Lanka extending the careers of this ancient Australian top order with a flat deck just so they don't get dropped and England can polish them off in the Ashes, thank you for your service,' he posted.

That was re-tweeted by the Barmy Army's official account, with the caption: 'Keep statpadding, Aussies'. If the post was designed to rile up the Aussies, it worked a treat. 'When the Barmy Army forget England played Sri Lanka in Eng, Pakistan and the Windies in 2024 after a playing Ireland in 2023,' one fumed in reply. 'Joe Root playing 20 tests a year is the definition of stat padding,' pointed out another.

'Well what else do you want them to do? Just not score runs? How was the English stat padding on the road in Pakistan when they scored 800,' posted another. 'Smith averages more than Root in England let alone Australia . 35 average over here and no centuries, why do you even bring him?' asked another. It comes ahead of what promises to be another spicy Ashes showdown in Australia this summer, with the likes of Khawaja and Smith desperate to take part in the home series.

The Aussies followed up a brilliant performance with the bat to claim three wickets by stumps on day two in Galle. While England fans have been quick with the sledges, their national team has not been coming to the party with results, failing to win a single match in its last 15 attempts in Australia. On the flipside, Australia retained the urn in a hard-fought series in England in 2023 and will face South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lords on June 7.

And even thought England has played Test series against battlers Pakistan, the West Indies and Sri Lanka, they have lost 10 of its 22 matches and failed to reach the WTC final once again. Meanwhile Australia were 610 runs ahead at stumps on Thursday, with Kamindu Mendis (13no) and Chandimal (9no) unbeaten. 'It was a brilliant start,' Inglis said. 'It always helps when they've obviously been out in the field for a long time so they'll have heavy legs.

'The wicket's obviously starting to take a bit more spin now, it's wearing, so hopefully start well tomorrow, take a couple early.'. With victory teetering out of reach, Sri Lanka have shifted into survival mode. 'Australia's got a mammoth on the board so I don't think we need to focus on the total much,' said legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay. 'Just keep batting and bat long. That's as simple as it can be.'.