Marcus Trescothick and his heir-apparent Alastair Cook shared a century partnership at Lord's in their first time at the crease together on Thursday during a heady mix of the old and new for England.
Cook, nine years his junior, fell only 11 runs short of a century in his first Test at Lord's.
Cook flew halfway around the world from the England 'A' tour of West Indies to replace Trescothick when the Somerset left-hander returned home for personal reasons before the first Test against India this year.
He seized his chance to score 60 and 104 not out and was an automatic choice for the first Test of the England summer, albeit batting in the unfamiliar position of number three.
Trescothick confessed to nerves on his return to the England side but showed few outward signs after safely negotiating the early overs.
"It was time to move on and play cricket," he told a news conference. "At first it was very tough, the ball moved more than I expected. I was pretty nervous really."
Cook again showed maturity beyond his years, particularly against Sri Lanka's peerless Muttiah Muralitharan who is determined to make an impact at his first Test at Lord's.
"It's the first time I've batted with Tres and Murali is one of a kind," Cook said. "I have never played anybody like him."
Trescothick, who became Muralitharan's second victim after surviving two close leg before wicket calls, said the Sri Lanka off-spinner is always a handful even on pitches which did not suit him.
"You have to go out there with a game plan," he said.
Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody said the pitch was clearly good for batting, praised his bowlers and refused to comment on three lbw decisions which would have gone his team's way.
"It's not for me to comment," he said. "It's all part of the game."
Moody also played down suggestions that Muralitharan, who has now taken 613 Test wickets was over-bowled.
Muralitharan sent down 27 overs on Thursday, two more than Sri Lanka's only other experienced bowler Chaminda Vaas.
"Murali has probably been over-bowled for 10 years," he said. "He thrives on bowling."