England captain Ben Stokes sensationally announced his international retirement on the fourth day of the third Test Match against New Zealand.
The announcement was made with the teams still on the field, shortly before the tea break at Trent Bridge.
Stokes was in the middle of a spell and, in Ian Botham style, promptly took a wicket with his very first ball after the news was made public to the crowd, having Zak Foulkes caught in the slips by possible successor Harry Brook.
Stokes, who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, has had a troubled year in the England shirt, leading a disappointing Ashes tour to Australia where rumours of off the field behaviour circulated and the noise hadn't quietened down this summer with Stokes and Gus Atkinson involved in an incident at a nightclub with Saracens players which led to the pair missing the second Test.
Stokes told his team-mates before the start of play, saying: "The reasons can wait, why, but I've had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand and I've got one more trip to do.
"The only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone do the same.
"We've got a lot of hard work to do and the only thing I want is to be able to walk off that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I've had this group give everything for the last two days.
"That's the only thing I want, for everyone to give it not only for me, selfishly, but also for this team.
"I've got the emotional side out of it. Now it's time to go to work. Please, everyone else come with me."
Stokes later sprung another surprising when opening the batting alongside Ben Duckett as England went in pursuit of 373 to win the series, and brought the house down with two sixes before falling for 30 off 20 balls.
It left England in big trouble and when Brook departed for 21 off just nine balls, it seemed beyond doubt that New Zealand would deny Stokes a winning send-off.
Stokes is the second great cricketer to announce his retirement during the series with former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson quietly calling it a day with immediate effect after the first Test at Lord's.
Speaking after England closed on 103-4, still 270 runs short of their target, Stokes told Sky Sports: "It might sound quite selfish but this decision is genuinely the best thing for me right now.
"I hope it's the best thing for the team going forward but I also hope it's what will allow me to keep loving this game that has given me so much."
Referring to the nightclub incident, he added: "Obviously another scenario happened that added to it. It's never easy with me, is it? It was an unfortunate situation to be involved in over the past two weeks."
