England vs Pakistan reaction: Ben Stokes a major doubt for third Test, admits Alastair Cook
All-rounder suffered calf injury bowling in Pakistan second innings and could miss over a month
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Your support makes all the difference.England captain Alastair Cook admits Ben Stokes is a major doubt for next week’s third Test at Edgbaston after the all-rounder sustained a calf injury on the fourth and final day of this series-levelling victory in Manchester.
Stokes will have a scan on Tuesday on the injury, which came when he was bowling during England’s 330-run win against Pakistan. And depending on the outcome, the 25-year-old might miss the rest of the summer.
A tear to the calf muscle would rule Stokes out for around six weeks – ruling him out of not just the final two Tests at Edgbaston and The Oval but also the limited-overs series that follow it.
Coming in his first game back since knee surgery in late May that ruled him out of the final two Tests against Sri Lanka, Stokes’ latest fitness concern is a big blow to England.
And, asked if he was now a doubt for the rest of the summer, Cook said: “That is too early to say but Stokesy is a really tough nut and he said he felt something go. We will know a lot more in the morning.
“The good thing is he is walking around up in the changing-room now. I’d say he’d be a fairly big doubt for Edgbaston, that’s fairly obvious. But if the scan is a good one then we can start treating him. He is a tough guy but [playing at Edgbaston] would be a big risk.”
Cook admitted losing Stokes once again would deprive England of an all-rounder who brings more than just runs and wickets to the team.
“He’s a true athlete,” said Cook. “His personality is a big thing. He plays on that edge, gives us a bit of an edge as a side, he never takes a backward step and drags people with him. So if he’s not there at Edgbaston he’s a big miss.”
Even if Stokes’ latest injury – his third in nine months – overshadowed England’s win, Cook was satisfied with his side’s performance after their 75-run defeat in the opening Test at Lord’s.
He said: “I thought the character we showed after Lord’s was great. We came into this game under pressure but the guys delivered.”
Cook also defended his much-criticised decision not to enforce the follow-on, saying: “I was a little bit surprised about the controversy it seemed to have caused. I’m sorry if people would have done it a different way but winning by more than 300 runs was pretty good effort.”
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