Joe Root described Jofra Archer's return to Test cricket as "class", as Lord's Cricket Ground erupted after the 30-year-old marked his return with a wicket from just his third delivery.
The fast bowler ended a four-year absence caused by career-threatening elbow and back injuries in spectacular fashion.
Archer struck immediately in England's second Test against India, dismissing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal with a delivery that had the pavilion on its feet.
The Barbados-born paceman's fairy-tale comeback began with him being handed the new ball for the second over of India's innings.
It took Jofra Archer just three balls to take his first wicket
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His first delivery rushed Jaiswal, the second beat the outside edge, and the third induced the fatal nick to Harry Brook at slip.
The atmosphere at Lord's was electric as 30,000 spectators witnessed history unfold.
Archer's celebration saw him roar with delight, sprint away and embrace team-mate Shoaib Bashir before pointing towards the England dressing room.
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The Englishman roared with emotion after his perfect return
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Root, Archer's former captain, captured the emotion perfectly: "It was class. That atmosphere, the genuine joy seeing him back playing Test cricket, taking that wicket, making things happen.
"The reception he gets shows how much love there is for him."
The crowd's response reflected the significance of the moment, as, after years of setbacks and rehabilitation, one of England's most exciting talents had returned to the Test arena in unforgettable fashion.
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Archer's opening spell proved he had lost none of his fearsome pace, bowling the fastest delivery of the series at 93.3mph, with his first over averaging just shy of 90mph.
His five-over burst became the third-fastest new-ball spell by an England bowler on record.
Only Andrew Flintoff at Edgbaston in 2009 and Steven Finn in Dunedin in 2013 have delivered quicker opening spells.
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On his return, Jofra Archer became third-fastest new-ball spell by an England bowler on record.
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The statistics were remarkable - Archer beat the bat with 6.6 per cent of his deliveries and found the edge 13.3 per cent of the time.
He maintained his pace throughout, averaging 87.2mph in his second spell and 86.5mph in his third, finishing with figures of 1-22 from 10 overs.
The implications for England's future are profound, with Root comparing Archer's impact to India's Jasprit Bumrah, noting: "He can create something different for you. It's great to see him being so impactful and keeping his pace up. There's more to come from him."
The challenge now lies in managing this precious resource carefully. Gone may be the days of bowling him for 42 overs in an innings, as happened in New Zealand during his first Test stint.