Unconventional exit for an English great - Agnew

Ben Stokes has always been his own man. He's been rebellious in the past. He's never been conventional. So his departure has not been conventional either.

Everyone assumed he would lead England to the Ashes next year and that he would want to be an Ashes-winning captain.

I wonder whether if he's watching it on TV next summer, his mind might just drift to what might have been.

I don't know whether he might regret this decision to retire from international cricket during the third Test against New Zealand one day.

We really don't know what's gone on over the last few days, or few weeks.

We know he didn't give any answer to the question of whether he felt supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board over what had happened regarding the London nightclub incident.

So whether he's going to say something about that when he gives his final news conference we will have to wait and see.

There has been lots of talk about Stokes' future since he was made unavailable for the second Test at The Oval but I don't think anybody really, really thought he was going to give up as captain.

I would think people are very surprised he chose to announce it in the middle of a game, with a series on the line - that's highly unusual.

He's chosen himself to go, but he seemed to be the least likely to go. He's very strong willed and that's his decision.

At the start of the series, if you looked at the positions of director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes, the one who looked the least vulnerable and most likely to remain in post was Ben Stokes.

Will Key and McCullum stay on? The same doubts remain.

This was supposed to have been a reset. They're supposed to have beaten New Zealand.

There's been shenanigans off the field, discipline issues. The great reset hasn't really happened. Had things progressed more smoothly, then perhaps they might have won the series and you'd be looking more positively towards the future, but that hasn't happened.

I don't think just because Stokes has gone that it takes the heat off of anybody else.

There are still question marks, particularly over Key's position, given it appears the details of the curfew were not made clear and that would be his job.

The way events transpired at Trent Bridge was hugely dramatic.

For Stokes' retirement to be announced while he was bowling a spell, and to get a wicket with his first delivery after the news was made public was straight out of an Ian Botham-style script.

It's just quite extraordinary, but that's the sort of cricketer he has been.

We'll miss that where there was Stokes, there was hope. Whether it was batting or bowling or whatever he was doing.

There was always a chance of victory with Stokes, because of the impossible or apparently impossible positions he's managed England in before.

I'll miss so much about Stokes. The fact he's fit and bowling well all adds a bit to the mystery.

The timing? You speak to former captains and they will all say that suddenly it hits you that it's time to go and you just don't want to do it anymore.

Stokes' announcement was just very surprising and the timing of it has got people talking as to why he chose to do it with so much of the game still in the balance.

While he was out there opening the batting, he created chaos among New Zealand's fielders. They were all over the place. He could never write off a situation.

He only made 30 in his final innings but you could never write him off. We'll miss that feeling of optimism he always brought.

Stokes goes down one of the greatest all-rounders of the English game.

He had the most calculated head when batting and chasing that I've seen from anybody.

The World Cup final and the Headingley Ashes Test in 2019, how he played those two innings, was absolutely remarkable.

Stokes bowled brilliant spells and took amazing catches.

But for me, his ability two control a chase as calmly as he did in those two iconic knocks is what I'll remember him for particularly.

Stokes has only retired from international cricket, so what now?

He says he will continue playing county cricket for Durham.

He could play in The Hundred if he wants to. Bear in mind, he wasn't going to play in that because of England's Test commitments, but that's changed now.

In the future, he could play in the Indian Premier League and other franchise cricket. That world is open to him.

He doesn't strike me as someone who'll jump straight into coaching or join us in the commentary boxes. He's still got some years of playing if he can remain fit.

Who replaces Stokes? That's a massive question. Harry Brook's off-the-field behaviour in New Zealand is the reason for the curfew. So although he is the Test vice-captain, he's a very uncomfortable choice for me at the moment.

Maybe if he demonstrates maturity as white-ball captain in upcoming series against India, it would make it easier for the ECB to appoint him as Test skipper.

But there'll be people who are uneasy with that choice.

Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's Timothy Abraham.