England vs Sri Lanka: Ollie Pope answers critics with century

Realistically, Pope’s place in the team was never under threat, having made a century and two half-centuries against the West Indies earlier in the summer, while England have a successful policy of giving their players long-term support.

Yet his methods have been questioned. When he scores runs, he is praised for his hustle, but that hustle can become hectic, especially at the start of his innings. Perhaps the captaincy was too much of a burden.

At The Oval, Pope is unrivalled. His first-class average on this pitch for this match was 81 and when he saw off the marker with a sharp cut for four, it looked like his day.

Pope continued to attack every width, stormed the boundary and also smashed two sixes.

He survived a Sri Lanka review for a catch on the leg side on 89, then reached three figures with a square drive from Asitha Fernando. Pope punched the air and feasted on the applause, then saluted the England dressing room.

His 102-ball ton is the second-fastest ever by an England captain, behind a 95-ball effort by Graham Gooch, while Pope becomes the first Test batsman to score his first seven hundreds against seven different opponents.