Josh Inglis could be Australia's next great batter and possibly a future Test captain after starting his Test career in style following a long apprentice.

It was a debut three years in the making but Josh Inglis made it one to remember with a thrilling century against Sri Lanka to give Australia another selection headache in the lead-up to the World Test Championship.

Josh Inglis became the first Australian batter in 10 years to hit a hundred on Test debut. The 29-year-old got to his maiden three-figure score in just 90 balls as Australia went past 600 in their first innings.

Australia had Sri Lanka three down after opener Usman Khawaja’s first double century and a ton on debut by Josh Inglis helped the tourists to 654-6 declared in the first match on Thursday. Sri Lanka were 44-3 by stumps on day two at Galle with senior batsmen Dinesh Chandimal,

With Australia in a commanding position during their opening innings against Sri Lanka, Inglis arrived at the crease with no intention of taking things slowly.

Australia's Usman Khawaja struck a maiden double hundred and Josh Inglis got a century on his test debut against Sri Lanka to power the tourists to a mammoth 654 for six before they declared their first innings on day two of the opening test on Thursday.