When everyone is fit, Woakes does the job in home Tests. He has been promoted to seven in this series because captain Ben Stokes is out through injury and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith has had to shift a place up the order.

But in Pakistan and New Zealand this winter ­and, crucially, in Australia for the Ashes in 15 months’ time, England need someone at eight who isn’t Woakes given his struggles with the ball overseas.

Atkinson may now be that man if he can kick on from this.

Remarkably, his previous highest first-class score of 91 came against a Sri Lanka Development XI in a tour match at Guildford in May 2022.

In his four previous Tests, Atkinson’s highest score had been 21 not out and his average 16. That has now ballooned to 36 thanks to this first century and if he can prove it isn’t a one-off, he may well end up being a valuable source of lower-order runs for years to come.

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History tells us that might not be a given if we look back to another remarkable lower-order century scored at this ground 14 years ago ­­– when Stuart Broad hit 169 from No 9 against Pakistan in a Test that was later tarnished by the spot-fixing scandal that engulfed the touring team.

Broad never went on to score another century, although he did pass fifty a further eight times.

A blow to the grille from India fast bowler Varun Aaron in 2014 had, Broad admitted, given him “nightmares” and affected his batting in subsequent years.

Atkinson can expect to be targeted from now on, especially when the Aussie quicks get to work in the 2025-26 Ashes.

For now, though, let’s just celebrate a golden moment for a cricketer who, don’t forget, also averages 19 with the ball.

It’s still early days, but England have found another gem this summer.

Moments of the day

Foot on the Gus

Atkinson started the day on 74 and was given out lbw on 82 before successfully reviewing the decision. He made the most of that life to bring up a brilliant maiden first-class century in glorious fashion, driving Lahiru Kumara for four to leave himself on 103 from as many balls – the sixth fastest Lord’s Test hundred.

Rolling Stone

Once England had added 69 runs to their overnight 358 for seven, they set about Sri Lanka’s batters. Chris Woakes got the ball rolling with the wicket of Nishan Madushka but Olly Stone then took out three years of injury frustration by bowling Dimuth Karunaratne on the stroke of lunch to leave the tourists on 32 for 2.

Potts strikes

Things started unravelling for Sri Lanka during the afternoon session. Stone struck again immediately after lunch to remove Pathum Nissanka. But it was Matthew Potts who sparked a collapse of three for four with the wickets of Angelo Mathews and captain Dhananjaya De Silva during a double-wicket maiden. Atkinson chipped in with the scalp of Dinesh Chandimal to leave the visitors on 87 for six.

Kamindu can’t do it again

Were it not for Sri Lanka’s gallant No7’s latest star turn, the tourists would be in even bigger trouble. Kamindu Mendis had scored a magnificent century at Old Trafford last week but fell for 74 this time, holing out to Atkinson to bring his team’s innings to an end 45 minutes before the close of play. It was his 6th fifty-plus score in eight innings.

Dan not the man

Dan Lawrence, a middle-order batter, has been handed a hospital pass by being asked to open in this series. After scoring nine in the first innings he was out for seven late on day two, Sri Lanka reviewing after believing he’d edged Kumara behind. Lawrence wasn’t happy with the decision but technology showed he had hit the ball as England lost their first wicket with 22 on the board.

Quote of the day

“A fabulous day of Test cricket, it had it all. It is a day Gus Atkinson will remember for the rest of his life. Then some superb bowling by England that was just too good for Sri Lanka.”

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell on BBC Test Match Special

Stat of the day

Gus Atkinson is only the sixth player to hit a century, take five wickets in an innings and 10 in a match at Lord’s after Gubby Allen (England), Keith Miller (Australia), Stuart Broad (England), Chris Woakes (England) and Ian Botham (England)

Bazball-o-meter: 8/10

Who would have thought Atkinson would be the Bazball standard-bearer with a century from No 8? Remarkable knock of 118 from 115 balls set the tone and a day that contained 14 wickets made this one to remember for the lucky ones who witnessed it at Lord’s.