Joe Root celebrated his 33rd Test century with a raised fist and a quick glance over his shoulder to double check his favourite steer through third man had glided up the slope to the boundary under the Compton Stand.
It was understated and efficient, bereft of over exuberance, just like his batting on the opening day of the second Test at Lord’s where he equalled Sir Alastair Cook as the scorer of the most Test hundreds for England.
There was a look skyward too, for Graham Thorpe, whose batting he channelled in a gritty innings that held England together and put them in a good position at 358 for seven.