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Test blow for Ben Stokes

Cook, who scored 105 in England’s mammoth first innings 589 for eight declared, was 49 not out and vice-captain Root, whose Test-best 254 was the cornerstone of that total, 23 not out.

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Cape Town – England head coach Trevor Bayliss, says the injury enforced absence of Ben Stokes will leave a hole in the England lineup throughout the rest of the Pakistan series.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Stokes will go for the scan after the pivotal all-rounder pulled up mid-over on the fourth afternoon against Pakistan in the second Test.

He missed two subsequent matches in that series victory, and was returning in Manchester for the first time after having had to sit out four one-day internationals and a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka too.

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.

Masood managed a more controlled boundary off Anderson, clipping off his pads, but a jab at a rising delivery later in the over gave Joe Root an inviting catch at second slip.

“It’s quite nice to bounce back and play like that”, said captain Alastair Cook.

On Anderson’s fitness, Cook said: “I think Jimmy (Anderson) is fine, I think naturally your first Test match back he will be a little bit sore but he’s fine”.

In the meantime, Cook was delighted by the way England had upped their game after being well below their best at Lord’s.

“We put most of those things right in this game”.

However, the fact that England will let their medical staff have an extended look at Stokes next Monday with a view to them providing more accurate rehabilitation timings suggests they are hopeful that he can recover quickly. “He is a big miss”, said Cook.

Pakistan’s final match of the tour is a Twenty20 global at Old Trafford on September 7.

Pakistan have three “reserve batsmen’ in their squad in Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan and Sami Aslam”.

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Doing without Stokes is something England have got used to in a season where he has started only two out of five Tests and has not finished one.

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