The 25-year-old Stokes tore a muscle in his right calf when he was bowling during England’s 330-run victory in the second test at Old Trafford on Monday.
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He had to have surgery on his left knee after injuring himself during the first Test against Sri Lanka in May.
But Root returned to the middle to join his captain and the pair took England through to the close without further loss, Cook finishing on 49 not out with Root on 23. “The amount of stick I got for no enforcing the follow-on, if we were here tomorrow with one wicket to get I think there’d be a few more knives in my back”.
“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”. 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.
“We have to improve in every department”.
Earlier, Cook (76) and Joe Root (71) smashed rapid unbeaten half centuries before England declared its second innings at 173-1 for an overall lead of 564.
With vice-captain Root promoted up the order to number three this series, the pair shared a second-wicket partnership of 185.
Meanwhile, England have announced a 13-man squad for the third Test starting on August 3.
Pakistan will now need to rewrite the record books if they are to achieve a remarkable win – the most any side have made in the fourth innings to win a Test is the West Indies’ 418 for seven against Australia at St John’s in May 2003. “We came into this game under pressure but the guys delivered”.
“We are getting starts but not building on them”.
He told Sky Sports 2: “I think it helps, but I still approach the game in the same way, you still play the same situation of what’s in front of you”.
His partner Joe Root (71no) was in even more of a hurry, pulling Rahat for successive fours in an over which cost 14 as the Yorkshireman raced past 300 runs in the match. “But it was hard to come back from 600”.
The Australian added: “I m sure (Vince s place) will come up for discussion before Edgbaston”.
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Meanwhile, Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who bagged ten wickets for 141 in the opening Test at Lord’s, managed figures of mere one for 266 at Old Trafford. I don’t think Stuart Broad saw much of it but it was great.
