'Absolute genius': Sri Lanka stunned by ridiculous one-handed Steve Smith catch

Steve Smith has carried his incredible recent Test form into the shorter formats, pulling off a highlight reel catch for the ages in the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

Australia got off to a red-hot start in Colombo, with seamers Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie both taking wickets from their first overs.

The hosts were in deep trouble at 5-55 early in the first innings, but a gritty partnership between Charith Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage steadied the ship.

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However, a magical piece of fielding from Smith in the slips ended Wellalage's innings.

With part-time spinner Matt Short chipping away and drying up the run rate, the left-hander edged a ball that looked to have gone past Smith, before the Aussie skipper stuck a hand out and reeled it back in to earn the breakthrough.

"Steve Smith carries on from the Test series," Simon Katich said on Seven.

"He is an absolute genius, whether it's with the bat in his hand or at first slip.

"This is an absolute beauty. It goes fine and quickly to his right, one-handed, almost behind himself and reels it in. Leading by example - that is a beauty."

Replays continued to further emphasise the brilliance of Smith's fielding.

"This is a truly wild moment. This catch is outstanding," the Sri Lankan caller said.

"It was to his right ... look at the judgement, the timing, that reaction. Hands on heads, they all know it's a brilliant catch. Simply a magnificent effort."

The freakish one-hander was Smith's third catch of the innings at the time.

The 35-year-old, who is filling in for Pat Cummins for this series and the ICC Champions Trophy, has been in a purple patch since mid-way through the home summer.

Smith has now taken more than 330 catches across all three international formats and continues to cement himself as one of Australia's all-time great fielders.