Cricketers tend to be a suspicious bunch and any England supporters who fall into that bracket will want to avert their eyes now, because the runes are not looking good. That is, at least, as far as James Anderson is concerned.

England’s leading wicket-taker in Tests managed to bowl just four overs against Australia in the first Test before he was withdrawn first from the attack and then from the field of play, whisked to hospital for a scan on a suspected torn right calf.

“He’s not had the results back yet,” said Stuart Broad after stumps. “He is down, he is frustrated. He ­actually came and said sorry to all the bowlers, not that he has got ­anything to be sorry for.

“He is distraught he could not have been out there today, but I don’t know the next step with it. All we can hope is the news is better than we expect.”

Before play had even started there were signs that not everything was going to go Anderson’s way. ­Jonathan Agnew revealed on BBC Test Match Special that Anderson’s car had been crashed into at ­England’s team hotel, just hours ­before the first ball was bowled. Anderson was not in the car at the time.