SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 04: David Warner of Australia chases the ball during day two of the Third Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

In an opening day full of highlights for Australia, David Warner may have taken the cake as he ignored his teammates appeals for an LBW to take a one-handed diving snare.

With Sri Lanka desperately trying to get into the game after winning the toss and electing to bat first on a dry looking pitch in Galle, Australia struck twice early.

It left Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews - the two expected to do plenty with the bat for the home side - at the crease and trying to rebuild shortly after lunch.

With significant turn on the Day 1 deck though, Australia's Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson would ultimately rip through the batting order of the Sri Lankans.

Bowling around the wicket in the 30th over of the contest and with Karunaratne on 28, he lunged forward in attempting to defend a full ball from Lyon, only to get an inside edge into his pad which bounced up for Warner to complete a miraculous catch.

It came as the Australians went up for LBW, believing the ball may have missed the inside edge of the Sri Lankan top order batsman.

Warner's catch had to be reviewed by the third umpire to ensure it carried, with the Aussie opener just managing to get his hand under the fast dropping ball before it hit the ground.

Warner would ultimately claim three catches during the innings, with Lyon going on to take five wickets as Sri Lanka were knocked over for 212.

Australia were 3 for 98 at stumps on the opening day.