The Trent Bridge Take, delivered by Ambassador Cruise Line, is our alternative view of proceedings at the Test.
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What is there to say, on this day of days?
New Zealand are in the box seat in this decisive Trent Bridge Test.
Daryl Mitchell batted beautifully to take their side into a position of control, and the target will almost certainly prove beyond a demob-happy England on a fifth-day pitch.
But somehow, none of it seems to matter.
Tomorrow will be Ben Stokes’ final day as an England cricketer – even if he will not take to the field – and today served as a reminder of just what the national team and his adoring public will miss.
News of the captain’s shock retirement spread in whispers around the Trent Bridge press box.
Murmured conversations, hastily-arranged phone calls to verify the rumours – shock and surprise when it was proven that they were true.
The official announcement came at Tea, but Sky Sports and the BBC broke the news 15 minutes before.
Supporters wearing commentary headsets were abuzz. A spontaneous standing ovation felt only fitting for this most lionhearted of England cricketers.
And then Ben Stokes took a wicket with the very next ball. Of course he did.
Fittingly for a man whose career will be remembered for great moments, his retirement was pure sporting theatre.
It will join Headingley 2019, the World Cup Final and those early Bazball-era wins in Three Lions folklore.
And it added to a record at Trent Bridge of taking a contest by the scruff of the neck.
In 2015, there was Oh My Broad – a third-slip catch so astonishing it left a Nottinghamshire legend open-mouthed as England routed the Australians for 60.
Later that game came a forgotten six-fer – consigned to the footnotes of Ashes history after Broad’s day-one eight-fer, but a crucial contribution as England reclaimed the urn in Nottingham.
And seven summers later, there was the birth of Bazball on the Trent Bridge turf.
Day five of England vs New Zealand could have staggered to a stalemate.
A target of 299 in little over 50 overs was the type of fourth-innings chase which would have seen previous sides simply shut up shop.
But Stokes and McCullum’s England were playing by different rules.
Swing hard, back your ability, and face the danger head on.
It resulted in a thrilling Jonny Bairstow century, but it was 75 from Stokes that took the hosts over the line.
In many ways, this game has followed a similar template to the 2022 Test between the two sides – at least until the England second innings began.
A strong New Zealand showing with the bat, a first-innings lead for the Blackcaps, and a daunting target set for the final day.
The task ahead this time always looked altogether tougher.
More runs required, on a pitch which is offering plenty for the bowlers.
But Stokes was attempting to script his own swansong, opening the batting with hometown centurion Ben Duckett – and seemingly trying to win this game on his own.
The eleventh ball of the innings went for six – the earliest maximum ever seen in an England innings – and the captain continued in much the same vein.
It was thrilling, it was breathtaking – it was ultimately doomed.
Stokes was caught for 30 off 20, receiving another standing ovation as he strode from the field for the final time.
While England continued in the same attacking vein without their captain at the crease, they were four wickets down at stumps. If Trent Bridge witnessed the birth of Bazball in 2022, were we now watching its passing?
Joe Root and Emilio Gay may well have something to say about that. And the final chapter will no doubt be enthralling.
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