SO, WHO’S GOING TO REPLACE HIM?

RORY BURNS (Surrey) Runs: 961. Average: 64.06. Hundreds: 3.

Burns, 28, is close to breaching the 1,000-run mark in four-day cricket for the fifth season in succession.

MARK STONEMAN (Surrey) R: 416. Av: 29.71. H: 1. The 31-year-old was back to form with 144 against Notts last week.

IAN BELL (Warwickshire) R: 871. Av: 62.21. H: 4.

England will lack experience in Cook’s absence and Bell, 36, has 118 Tests worth.

JOE DENLY (Kent) R: 654. Av: 38.47. H: 3.

The 32-year-old bats at first wicket down but has opened.

NICK GUBBINS (Middlesex) R: 364. Av: 40.44. H: 1.

Gubbins, 24, is another left-hander who came under consideration for first Test squad in May.

* All stats from this summer