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.

Inglis made 102 in 94 balls, with 10 fours and a six, with his runs coming at a strike rate of 108.51. His strike rate of 108.51 is also the highest among all debutants in Tests, outdoing Shikhars strike rate of 107.

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,

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.

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.