The hosts, bidding for a 3-0 Investec series whitewash of Sri Lanka, were relieved when x-rays proved their captain has no broken bones after taking a blow to his left knee fielding at silly mid-off.
But as they slid to 50 for three, after losing two second-innings wickets in two balls to Nuwan Pradeep (three for 25), they must have been tempted to persuade the opener back into the middle.
Cook must instead wait overnight to discover whether he is fit to bat again here – and at least on an eventful third day of this third Test, England recovered some composure in Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow’s half-century stand before closing on 109 for four and a lead of 237.
As 13 wickets fell for 235 runs, the new tempo here was hard to credit after Lord’s had slumbered through the previous day to the extent that Sri Lanka resumed on 162 for one.
In under eight overs of a cloudy morning, it was 169 for four, and – after a counter-attacking seventh-wicket stand of 71 between Rangana Herath and Kusal Perera – the last three went for no runs to leave the tourists 288 all out at tea.
The home attack had drawn a near blank on day two – but on the resumption, Chris Woakes (three for 31) and Steven Finn (three for 59) each bagged two wickets.
WICKET: Vince is out first ball to Pradeep, who has two in two balls. ENG 50-3: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw #ENGvSL https://t.co/RSN1VPir6c
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 11, 2016
In an extended evening session – minus Cook, of course – England first lost Nick Compton, pushed up to open in what may prove his final Test innings.
Then Pradeep bowled Joe Root and James Vince, for a golden duck, to put himself on a hat-trick.
Hales had survived a tough chance to second slip on 19, and was reprieved again on 39 just before close when Chandimal dropped a chance down the leg-side off Pradeep.
By then, though, Bairstow had succumbed – playing across one as Pradeep bowled a third Englishman.
