‘Awesome’ Aussies smashing records already

The 20th Commonwealth Games kicked off with a bang in Glasgow after the opening ceremony celebrated all things Scottish.

Matthew Glaetzer sprints to a Commonwealth Games record. Source: Getty Images

QUEEN PULLS OFF GREATEST PHOTOBOMB EVER WITH HOCKEYROOS

ONE does enjoy photobombing selfies, doesn't one?

Queen Elizabeth II decided to crash a picture taken by hockeyroo Jayde Taylor and based on the mischievous grin, wasn't Her Majesty just loving it.

You won't be surprised to hear that the pic has gone gangbusters on social media.

HOY HAILS 'AWESOME' YOUNG AUSSIE AFTER GAMES RECORD SMASHED

OUR pedal-pushers look in good nick already, with Matthew Glaetzer and Peter Lewis smashing the Commonwealth Games record in men's sprint qualifying.

The pair both went inside Shane Perkins' previous best of 10.058secs with scorching rides on the opening day of competition at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Reece Homfray writes.

Matthew Glaetzer of Australia breaks the Commonwealth record during sprint qualifying. Source: Getty Images

Newcastle's Lewis momentarily held the Games record when he clocked 9.975 but eventually finished fourth fastest of the session after Adelaide's Glaetzer took top spot with an amazing 9.779.

The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting prospects in international sprinting and his performance drew a response from the greatest track sprint cyclist of all time in Sir Chris Hoy who described it on Twitter as "awesome".

SCHEDULE: QUICK GUIDE TO THE BEST OF DAY 1

Prince Imran gets the top off, no thanks to that other bloke. Source: AP

PRINCE REVEALS BATON FARCE INJURY, SAYS HOY NOT MUCH HELP

It was one of the moments of the Opening Ceremony: Malaysia's Prince Imran struggling to open the Queen's Baton as millions looked on and cringed for him.

Well today he revealed that it wasn't just his pride that got hurt as he unveiled the cut thumb he suffered while trying to pull the message out of the contraption for 15 nerve-wracking seconds.

"There was some collateral damage, I cut my thumb on that wonderful piece of Scottish engineering. It was my fault, nothing to do with the makers of the baton," he said.

"All's well that ends well, and Her Majesty enjoyed it very much as well."

He also revealed that despite being hailed as the saviour of the situation, Sir Chris Hoy actually made things worse.

"I am not sure Chris Hoy helped by closing the thing as he tried to help me," he said.

PIC SPECIAL: THE WEIRD, WACKY AND WONDERFUL OPENING CEREMONY

UK VIEW: ENGLAND GIVES NEIGHBOURS' CEREMONY THE THUMBS-UP

Fans won't be doin' 'The Mo' at this year's Commonwealth Games. Source: AP

MO BLOW FOR ORGANISERS AS FARAH PULLS OUT

TERRIBLE news for Commonwealth Games organisers and the England team this morning as track superstar and Olympic hero Mo Farah withdrew from competition.

The 5000m and 10,000m London Games champion was expected to repeat that double in Glasgow, but instead announced his withdrawal on the first day of competition.

The 31-year-old said after battling injury and illness he was not in the shape to perform and would instead concentrate on next month's European Championships.

With uncertainty still surrounding Usain Bolt's participation in the 4 x 100m relay, the track and field program may be severely lacking in star power this Games.

Sally Pearson will have an audience with the Queen. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

OUR QUEEN OF THE TRACK TO MEET QEII

Sally Pearson will meet the Queen this afternoon, attending a royal luncheon along with Sevens captain Ed Jenkins.

The audience with Her Majesty may help ease any issues Pearson may have had with being overlooked as flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony, with Anna Meares handed the honour despite a string claim from the Olympic 100m hurdle champion.

Pearson has previously met the Queen and was also one of 200 Queenslanders to meet Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a function in Brisbane earlier this year.

AUSSIE SQUASH STAR 'EXEMPLARY' AFTER HEARTBREAKING DEPARTURE

Unusual development in the Aussie camp, with a player forced to go home after a compatriot won an appeal for the right to play.

The nation's third-ranked player Matthew Karwalski only found out on Tuesday that he had won his appeal to the sport's Court of Arbitration and arrival meant there was no place on the team for seventh-ranked Zac Alexander.

Alexander slipped away from the village quietly and was hailed by Australia's chef de mission Steve Moneghetti for handling the situation with "exemplary" good grace, describing him as an "incredible young man".

FULL COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCHEDULE