It was one of the most extraordinary scenes witnessed in a career positively littered with them. Ten or so minutes before tea on the fourth day against New Zealand, about to start the 11th over of another marathon spell, Ben Stokes stood at the top of his mark as a ripple of applause suddenly turned into a standing ovation.
Moments earlier the England and Wales Cricket Board had announced that Stokes would be retiring from internationals at the end of this deciding third Test. The players had been informed by Stokes before the start of play and now the public was in on the secret, people in the stands rising as one to roar as their champion all-rounder set off on another bullocking charge to the crease.
