Hit and miss for England

ALASTAIR COOK said Ben Stokes will be “a big miss” after the all-rounder limped out of contention for the third Test at Edgbaston with a calf muscle tear.

England completed a 330-run victory over Pakistan to level the Investec Series 1-1 with two to play.

And while England remain hopeful the injury to Stokes is not as bad as it first appeared when he pulled up, they appear to have already ruled him out of Birmingham.

Cook, left, said he was confident England can win next week’s Test without him. But he said: “Ben is a tough nut and a true athlete – a player who plays on that edge, never taking a backward step and one who drags people with him. He is a big miss.

“Ben will have an MRI scan and hopefully the scan will be a good one but he said he felt something go and it would be a big risk to play him at Edgbaston.”

Cook was pleased with a comprehensive victory that