So a decision Stokes made as he was putting on the pads on Saturday leaves England staring at a future they would have hoped to delay much longer.

Who becomes the new captain? Stokes said he is “100%” behind Harry Brook, whose challenge is to prove he is mature enough to lead the Test team.

What about the balance of the XI, so unbalanced when Stokes missed the second Test at The Oval?

Is there a candidate who presents himself as the all-rounder? Maybe Rehan Ahmed or Sam Curran, at one point. At The Oval, England played with an extra batsman, cutting their attack and omitting spinner Shoaib Bashir. Have your short-term prospects just taken a hit?

More broadly, Stokes’ departure means England have lost another world-class player, continuing a three-year procession to the exit door.

Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali have retired. Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood will probably never play Test cricket again. Joe Root is the only active England Test player who knows what it’s like to win an Ashes series, the only survivor from former coach Andy Flower’s school.

As for the suggestion that Stokes’ retirement might be temporary, that he might be persuaded to return for one last chance with the Aussies next summer, he was having none of it.

“I’ll be in some hospitality box,” Stokes said. You’ll probably do it at full speed too.

This leaves the rest of us pondering what could become of this England team.

Who will cast the spells? Who will reach six? Who will be responsible for the captures? Who will bring the feat? Who is the patron saint of lost causes? Who will be there when all seems lost?

Ben Stokes is gone, and so are the moments.