Australia lost three wickets and was 28-3 before the drinks break in the first session after Australia won the toss and decided to bat. But opener Burns and Head steadied the hosts to move Australia to 103-3 at lunch.

In the second session, it only got better. Burns hit Australia's first century of the summer test season and the fourth of his career, reaching his 100 about 10 minutes before tea. Head looked likely to follow early in the final session.

That was in stark contrast to the first 45 minutes, which were woeful for the home side.

Marcus Harris was out for 11 in the fourth over on a shot he probably shouldn't have played. The wide off-stump swinging delivery from Vishwa Fernando was hit straight to Chamika Karunaratne at point for the first Sri Lankan wicket.

Usman Khawaja was gone for a three-ball duck two overs later, also off Fernando's bowling, and Marnus Labuschagne was caught behind for six off Karunaratne's bowling. It was Karunaratne's first test wicket in his debut.

Khawaja entered the sixth and final test of the Australian summer with only one half-century, a 72 against India in Perth.

To start the day, Paine, who had lost eight of nine previous coin tosses — the one exception being when Australia beat India at Perth — flipped with his left hand on Friday. He had no hesitation in deciding to bat, and Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said he looked forward to getting some early wickets on the greenish track.

Paine named an unchanged side from the one that beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 40 runs in the first test inside three days in Brisbane.

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal made four changes, with the biggest news that Suranga Lakmal would miss the second and final game with a stiff back. Kusal Perera, Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Karunaratne were the newcomers.

It was the first-ever test at Manuka Oval in Canberra, giving Australia its 11th test venue.