England and India are currently embroiled in a very tense Third Test at Trent Bridge, where India is in complete control of the match. India declared their second innings for 352/7 with Virat Kohli scoring 103 in the second innings and Hardik Pandya too hitting a fifty.

England is set a target of 521 runs to win the match and has all the ten wickets in their hand and two days to play out.

However, for England, the troubles have just started as it has been reported by dailymail.co.uk that experience England opener Alastair Cook may miss the all-important fourth Test match in Southampton for personal reasons.

The personal reason being the birth of his fourth child, as his wife Alice is due to go into labor around the same time the match starts. But Sportsmail understands that England is currently hoping the timing of the birth will allow Cook to take his place in what is shaping up to be a crucial game.  

If Cook misses the fourth Test, then his world record streak of 157 consecutive Test appearances will come to an end.  Cook is averaging only 19 in Test cricket this year - comfortably his lowest annual average since his debut in 2006.

If Cook misses the match, England will be left with a very new batting order at the top with Keaton Jennings trying to establish himself as an opener and Ollie Pope just beginning his career.

Cook’s likeliest replacement in the team would be Surrey’s Rory Burns, who is on a hot streak of run in the domestic cricket scene. 

(with inputs from dailymail.co.uk)