CRICKET/The Ashes, second Test: For England, the sight yesterday could hardly have been more distressing - their captain, Michael Vaughan, led away from the nets wincing with pain after taking a blow on the right elbow that leaves him doubtful for tomorrow's second Test.
England's chances of reviving their Ashes challenge, after ultimately being overpowered by Australia at Lord's, rest to a considerable degree upon Vaughan rediscovering the batting authority that brought so many plaudits in Australia more than two years ago.
One routine delivery from the Hampshire seam bowler Chris Tremlett has now thrown this Ashes challenge into turmoil. Vaughan collapsed to the ground immediately after being struck on the elbow. He sat up, his face etched with pain and was guided to a nearby bench where he received ice treatment from England's physio Kirk Russell, and the elbow was strapped.
Vaughan left disconsolately, head bowed. As much as his team-mates sought to sip their water bottles and carry on regardless, as if this was an everyday occurrence, the blow will have reverberated throughout the side.
An X-ray at a Birmingham hospital revealed no fracture, but even heavy bruising carried threat enough for Vaughan less than 36 hours before a Test that should represent one of England's best chances in the series.
Marcus Trescothick would assume the England captaincy should Vaughan not recover, although the psychological effect of losing the captain would be so vast that Vaughan would be likely to play if not quite 100 per cent fit.
"It's a bit of an unknown quantity but I've been hit there a few times," said Trescothick. "Andy Caddick used to hit me there for fun. If you ice it and compress it, it can often ease up within 24 hours."
Tremlett, the 13th member of a 13-strong squad, has yet to make his Test debut. If anyone other than Vaughan had a sleepless night last night it would be him, as he must have feared that his sole Ashes impact might be inadvertently to have put his captain out of a crucial Test and throw England's challenge out of kilter.
England have batting cover in Paul Collingwood, who was initially added to the 12 who lost at Lord's as a safeguard, in case recent heavy rain in the West Midlands persuaded them to play an extra batsman.
Collingwood's recent purple patch has come at number three, but it would be a turn-up if he fulfilled that role for England.
The captain must be regarded as not better than 50-50 and if his recovery remains in doubt after practice this morning, and especially if England also harbour the possibility of fielding an extra batsman, then they would need a further call-up.
One smack on the elbow is all it has taken for England's selectors to rue the retirement of Graham Thorpe.
The Surrey left-hander at his most artful would have been the perfect response to a crisis. But the selectors should not be taken to task. It might well be that their decision to select Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen ahead of Thorpe for the Lord's Test hastened his international retirement.
But if Thorpe felt he was unable to await a potential call-up later in the series, partly because his new partner was about to give birth, then it automatically questioned whether he would have been mentally acquitted for the task.
Vaughan is likely to be less incapacitated by a blow on his right elbow, especially as he is predominantly a top-handed player.
If he does play, however, he could expect a few more short balls than normal, as any pain in the arm will be most exposed on hook and pull shots.
