The Surrey wicketkeeper was not even in the first visiting gathering, a late call-up as cover for the harmed Jonny Bairstow, however finished his first day in universal cricket with a profoundly guaranteed 87 not out to his name and dreams of a second day century when play resumes.
Having effectively influenced the selectors he was the most ideal gloveman for the activity, he gave what might have been a reverberating tryout for an expert batting spot, touching base at the wrinkle with his side in hardship at 103 for five and strolling off having shepherded them to 321 for eight.
The best request had imploded amid a normally berserk morning on outside soil, a few self-caused wounds abandoning them very nearly fall.
Be that as it may, Foakes effectively rebooted the whole innings. Potentially the match itself. Possibly the course of the arrangement. He batted with quiet expert more than 184 conveyances, blunting the Sri Lankan spinners and delicately turning the tide with late help from Sam Curran (48).
Britain's group was lighter on involvement by 342 tops since its last trip in September - the resigned Alastair Cook, the harmed Bairstow and the dropped Stuart Broad supplanted by novices in Rory Burns and Foakes and new kid on the block spinner Jack Leach playing in simply his second Test.
Consumes was first into the amusement, turning his third ball in universal cricket to the mid-wicket ropes and cutting another limit past mid-on.
The splendid begin immediately struggled, however, Burns feathering Suranga Lakmal off his hip and into the wicketkeeper's gloves - the sort of expulsion batsmen revile and bowler's joyously acknowledge.
That conveyed Moeen Ali to the wrinkle for his most recent - and conceivably last - endeavor to paper over the issues at number three. It endured precisely one ball, Lakmal finding the ideal point to dash past his safeguards and take out off stump.
Keaton Jennings and Joe Root aroused with a 62-run stand yet their association barely quieted the nerves.
And two unsuccessful surveys - both enthusiastically sought after by Niroshan Dickwella - Jennings edged among manager and slip and was appallingly dropped by Angelo Mathews on 26.
At last it was Root who clasped. Arrogant in the wake of making a familiar 35, he kept running down the track towards resigning saint Rangana Herath yet neglected to reach in the wake of yorking himself. That was the 40-year-old's 100th wicket here, with fireworks set off over the Galle Fort to toast the event.
Before the finish of the session Dilruwan Perera had shaken the stumps twice more, Jennings cramped on a backfoot cut for a doing combating 46 and Ben Stokes skittled endeavoring a messily goal-oriented trudge clear.
In the wake of achieving lunch with no further show, Jos Buttler and Foakes reset the tone toward the evening.
Great balls were watched and repulsed, botches in line or length seized upon securely and delicate hands used to work the holes. After a confounding morning this was direction Test cricket, and it worked.
Buttler was not able see it through, well held by Dickwella for 38 in the wake of snacking at Perera's armball, however Foakes had warmed pleasantly to his errand.
