On a jaw-dropping fourth day of the series decider against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, a statement dropped announcing that one of the greatest players of his generation would be walking away for good at the end of the match.
Defeat in his 122nd and last Test outing seems certain – England thrashing their way to 4-103 chasing 373 – but Stokes' dramatic goodbye demanded top billing.
As the shock news filtered through, the crowd in Nottingham rose to give the departing England Test skipper a standing ovation – just as the 35-year-old was ready to start the 11th over of another mammoth bowling spell.
Typically, Stokes did the unthinkable with his very next delivery – taking Zak Foulkes' edge and sealing a dismissal that saw his team-mates engulf him in their own private retirement party.
After tea, the rest of the England side and New Zealand's not-out batters also gave him a guard of honour.
When New Zealand finally declared on 9-288, with Daryl Mitchell battling for a fine 100 not out, Stokes had one last surprise up his sleeve. He moved himself up the order, from seven to opener, indulging a final act of 'Bazball' hubris as the chapter closed.
He batted for 20 balls, launching two big sixes buthe music finally stopped on 30 when he dragged Foulkes to midwicket.
The end of Stokes' era comes exactly three weeks after the nightclub visit that plunged England into turmoil and cast his own future into doubt.
After a disciplinary investigation, he and Gus Atkinson were handed a conduct warning by the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaching "specific contractual obligations" but were effectively cleared of anything more than being out in the early hours following a Test victory at Lord's.
Stokes informed the England team of his decision on Sunday in a passionate address before the start of play.
He will continue playing for Durham but later admitted the responsibility of the England captaincy had burned him out.
"It's the best thing that I've ever been asked to do captaining this team, captaining this country," he told Sky Sports.
"As good as it is there are bits that do get you, do drain you and do affect you in a negative way but overall for four and a half years, or whatever it's been, I've loved every single moment of it."
