England limped to a tame series defeat to New Zealand as they were beaten by 160 runs on an anti-climactic final day at Trent Bridge - Ben Stokes' last as an England cricketer.
Stokes' career has been defined by numerous super-human spells with bat and ball - none more so than his match-winning, unbeaten 135 in the 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley - but news of his retirement on the fourth afternoon preceded a chaotic few hours in which he and others from England's top order somewhat gifted their wickets to leave the team in a hole at 103-4, chasing 373, at the start of day five.
Rather than see Stokes' farewell innings, and the possibility of him inspiring another remarkable run chase to close his international career, those who took up the free tickets on offer for day five - the stands somewhat sparse - instead witnessed just a Jamie Smith (60 off 90 balls) half-century as the only real resistance offered.
He and Gus Atkinson (19) shared in a 75-run partnership for the seventh wicket, showing perhaps what could have been possible had England batted a bit more sensibly and set things up the previous evening - New Zealand's depleted pace attack aiding their cause.
But by that point the game was long gone for England, who had lost Stokes (30 off 20), Jacob Bethell (0), Harry Brook (21 off 9) and Ben Duckett (36 off 42) the previous evening, with Emilio Gay (10) added in the fourth over of the day and then Joe Root (18) run out four balls later.
Brook's dismissal, holing out to deep fine leg late on the fourth evening, had prompted New Zealand, in comments picked up on the stump mic, to ponder 'What are they doing?'
They might not be the only ones as this final Test defeat - as well as Bazball and its future - is dissected following a seventh loss in their last nine and England's first defeat at home in a three-Test series or more since 2012.
England's slim hopes of a famous final-day victory rested largely with Root, but within four overs both he and Gay were gone, with the brilliant Nathan Smith (2-64) - the series' leading wicket-taker with 16 - first claiming Gay's edge through to the keeper.
Root was then the first of two run-outs from the final day, with New Zealand's impeccable fielding effort in keeping with their superb showing throughout the series in all facets of the game.
Henry Nicholls, while seemingly losing his footing, still managed to get his throw off when tumbling backwards, seeing the back of Root with a direct hit.
Smith and Atkinson countered a touch, while New Zealand's inexperienced and ailing attack was further hampered when Will O'Rourke pulled up with a hamstring injury midway through the morning session.
Smith played a few shots at one end - including a glorious straight six off Mitchell Santner that hinted at a welcome return to form with the bat - while Atkinson dug in for 70 balls at the other to bring the runs required below 200.
Santner (2-54) eventually accounted for Atkinson, lbw, just before the lunch interval, where Your Site' Stuart Broad pondered: "I don't quite get the logic of watching Gus Atkinson face 70 balls, blocking it, and Harry Brook getting 20 off nine!"
After the interval, England's tail meekly subsided, Jofra Archer edging Smith behind before Santner this time superbly threw down the stumps to dismiss Josh Tongue (2) shortly after Smith brought up an 87-ball fifty with three boundaries in a row.
The match and series then reached its inevitable conclusion as Smith holed out in the deep off Santner, potentially triggering the end of Bazball, four years on and at the same venue at which it was born with a stunning final-day run chase against the same opponents.
England captain Ben Stokes:
"There are a few people with a few questions but I hope that it can be respected is that the most important person who can make the decisions is myself.
"I didn't take the decision lightly or rush into it - I had a number of people who I trust to talk through these things.
"I tried this whole week to see if I could get myself ready to see myself going beyond that but I couldn't.
"I told a few people I'm close with about my decision the night before, and then the team in the morning.
"I told my comms team to come up with a plan because I had quite a lot to concentrate on over the last two days.
"I look at the way the last two and a half weeks have unfolded. It's obviously been interesting, but I can look back one day and have a laugh that there was a bit of controversy over my last game for England.
"You could relate that to me as a player - a little bit hit and miss at times - and with this [announcement], something pretty simple ended up being complicated.
"But I've thoroughly enjoyed every single time I've walked on the field and will look back with fond memories at everything, even if there is a bit of controversy here and there."
England head coach Brendon McCullum:
"Stokes has had an impact on so many people, not just since he's been captain but throughout his career.
"He is a leader of men - people follow him. He's made such a significant impact over the last four years. He is going to be missed.
"We've been speaking for a couple of weeks, but when he confirmed to me yesterday that he was going to retire, I tried to talk him down. It became pretty obvious he had made his decision and was at peace with it.
"Your emotion then leads on to sadness, really, because you've been on this journey together for four years. It's been a real thrill. I feel privileged to have worked intimately with Stokesy during that time and consider him a good friend.
"I hope his next chapter is as great as his last."
