England vs Pakistan: Ben Stokes will be a 'big miss' for hosts in third Test at Edgbaston, admits Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook fears England may struggle to repeat their spectacular display against Pakistan at Edgbaston if they are without Ben Stokes.

Stokes will have a scan on Tuesday to determine the nature of a calf injury he picked up as England won by 330 runs at Old Trafford to level the Investec Series at 1-1 on Monday evening.

Stokes pulled up after delivering the second ball of his sixth over and left the field immediately. Cook admitted the all-rounder was unlikely to play in the Third Test at Edgbaston, which starts on August 3.

Stokes bats at No6, can bowl at close to 90mph and is an outstanding fielder. Cook said: “His personality gives us an edge. He never takes a backwards step and he drags people with him.

“He was walking around after play but I would say he’d be a fairly big doubt for Edgbaston and if he is not there, he is a big miss. Hopefully the scan is good and he is a tough guy, but that would be a big risk.”

This was Stokes’ first Test after a two-month lay-off with a knee injury, which he sustained against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

Stokes has also suffered a damaged shoulder recently and Cook added: “Maybe he’s having a spell where he’s picking up niggles. As an all-rounder, maybe he could just stand at first slip when he is bowling, but that is not his character.”

Pakistan won the First Test at Lord’s but were demolished here, with England producing close to the perfect performance.

Their aim is to reach the top of the world Test rankings but Cook believes they are some way from achieving it. Without Cook and man-of-the-match Joe Root – who made 254 in the first innings – the batting looks fragile, while Moeen Ali struggles to provide control with his off-spin.

Cook said: “This side still needs a couple more years to develop. Three of the top five are a bit inexperienced but we are going in the right direction.

“If we want to be No1 in the world, those are the areas we need to keep working on. We hope we will get a bit more consistency.

“Being a senior player brings added responsibility. For years I was a junior player and I was carried along, but now as a 31-year-old, it’s my time to be leading. Joe and I have to lead from the front. Some will call it pressure but I see it as responsibility.”

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq accepts he may need to change his team at Edgbaston, especially as opener Shan Masood appears ill-equipped at this level.

He added: “Some of the batsmen are getting starts but not converting them into bigger innings, which is what we need them to do.”