KANDY: Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes Australia has inflicted some early mental scars after the tourists shredded Sri Lanka's batting order on the opening day of the first Test.

Hazlewood had a key role in Australia's dominance, claiming 3-21 off 10 accurate overs as the rebuilding hosts were rolled for 117 in 34.2 overs.

Nathan Lyon (3-12), Steve O'Keefe (2-32) and Mitch Starc (2-51) also ensured Australia of a balanced attack at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium after skipper Steve Smith lost the toss.

That debutant Dhananjaya de Silva top-scored (24) for Sri Lanka highlighted how dominant the Australian bowlers were - and hope to remain. "Anything you can get on the opposition is crucial. If you can get straight up (on them) on the first morning of a Test series, get on top of a few of their top-order batters, it does open up some scars, hopefully, for the back end of the tour on some not-so-friendly wickets for us quicks. Anything is crucial," Hazlewood said.

"We don't know much about these guys. We haven't played them a lot, especially our bowlers. We have worked out a few things here and there in that innings, so we will look to keep on top of them with those plans through the series."

This wicket always shaped as the most accommodating for the pacemen, for Galle is set to favour spin, and Colombo is expected to be flat and hard work for the quicks. "(Galle) is probably going to suit the spinners, then Colombo being quite flat is going to be hard work. We trained on some flat wickets in Colombo when we got here and tried a few different things here and there. We are as prepared as we can be," Hazlewood said.

"I don't think I needed to change too much for this first innings. I think it will be the second innings and more the next two Test matches which will really test us quicks. We may have to work on a few different things. I think reverse swing will be a huge factor as well."

Australia responded shakily when openers David Warner (1) and Joe Burns (3) fell but had steadied against a spin-focused attack by the time Usman Khawaja (25 not out) and Smith (28 not out) had carried the score to 2-66 at tea. Rain then began to fell, and play was abandoned 45 minutes before stumps.

Smith had suggested through the week he may have bowled first had he won the toss but Hazlewood felt that would not have been the case on Tuesday.

"I think he was going to bat ... he doesn't usually let many people know. I think we were going to have a hit," he said. "I was happy to bowl turning up today - I think it was a good toss to lose, just to see how that wicket was going to play. I thought if we bowl well, which we did, we would get a few wickets early."

The Australians know how precious first-innings runs will be on a deck Hazlewood said was "tacky" and offered inconsistent spin.