Joe Burns and Travis Head plundered Australia's first centuries of

the home summer Friday in a stirring fightback as they ruthlessly exposed Sri Lanka's inexperienced attack in the second Test at Canberra.

Australian skipper Tim Paine won the toss at the Manuka Oval and put his side in on a flat track conducive to batting, a gambit that paid off after some early wobbles.

At stumps, they were a commanding 384 for four with Burns not out 172 and Kurtis Patterson, who was dropped first ball, on 25.

Head fell for 161 after a 308-run stand with Burns - Australia's first stand over 200 since Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh achieved the feat in the third Test against England in December 2017.

Vishwa Fernando was the best of the bowlers with 3-99.

On a cool, overcast day, Bums and Head dug Australia out of a hole after they lost Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne cheaply to be in trouble at 28 for three.

After weathering the storm, the pair started cashing in on a Sri Lankan attack missing their top bowlers and fieldsmen who put down a host of chances.

"We knew the first hour was going to be tough, bit of grass on the wicket, so despite losing the three

wickets we just knew we had to absorb the pressure,” said Bums.

“We also knew they were an inexperienced bowling attack that was going to present scoring opportunities if we got through those tough periods. Hopefully we can come out tomorrow and do much the same."

Back in the side after being overlooked for series against Pakistan and India, Bums survived a dropped catch on 34, but was otherwise invincible and brought up his fourth Test ton off 147 balls with a single.

Bums' knock was the first century for Australia since Khawaja's 141

against Pakistan in October and the second an Australian scored since the fifth Ashes Test almost 13 months ago. SCORES IN BRIEF:

AUSTRALIA: First innings 384 for 4 (Burns 172 not out, Head 161, Patterson 25 not out; Fernando 3-

99, Karunaratne 1-87)