Tim Bresnan knew that Graeme Swann would be fine, soon after he was hit by on the forearm by a Tymal Mills ball.
Swann was struck on his bowling arm and needed treatment from the physio early on day two of England's LV= Challenge Ashes warm-up match. But England's off-spinner felt able to bat on for another nine overs as he and centurion Bresnan put on 187 together for the eighth wicket in a total of 413 for nine declared.
Swann (94) later went to hospital for an X-ray, which cleared him of any break, and - although he spent the remainder of the day off the field as Essex replied with 231 for nine- England could breathe a sigh of relief just nine days before the start of the Investec Ashes.
Jaik Mickleburgh (90) underpinned Essex's batting, while for England there was the encouraging sight of Joe Root taking 4-57 with his improving off-spin in Swann's absence.
Bresnan said of Swann: "For a split second I was (concerned), and then I could see he could grip the bat. If he's got his grip and can move his wrist, it's generally not broken. It's just going to be quite sore, but he'll be all right."
"Injury is part of the game. But obviously you don't want to be doing it in these sort of matches, trying to prepare for a big series coming up. We're happy that he's all right."
Mills' aggression gave Bresnan some discomfort too. He recovered his composure to post his fourth first-class hundred, however, and later explained it was as much a lack of pace out of the pitch as an excess of it that undid him.
"It was weird; it was kind of sticky, just got stuck in the wicket,” he said. "It's difficult when the ball gets a bit softer and doesn't quite get up. You can't really get underneath it, and I think we found that awkward. Then we just decided to have a flap at it after that."
Mills could still reflect on a victory of sorts after captain Ravi Bopara had asked him to crank up the speed in front of the live television cameras.
"Those two had put on a good partnership, and Ravi said 'it's time to let them have a few',” Mills said. "So the bowlers' union went out of the window a little bit there. You've got to do what you've got to do to try to get some wickets. As soon as they get past 20-odd, you want to get them out. You can only be friendly for so long."
Mills spoke to Swann afterwards, to check he was not badly hurt.
"Ravi said to bump 'em, and we were just trying to get off the field really, take some wickets - and that was the way we were going to go about it,” he added.
"At the time, you're doing what you have to, what your captain is asking. Then when I got off the field, I've spoken to him - and he's all right. There's no hard feelings."
On the pitch, he was not about to take a backward step.
"At the time, it's a competitive game, and we're trying to give the best we can of ourselves against this lot. So you've got to put 100 per cent in," Mills said
"We just laughed and joked really (afterwards). It was just bruising. I'm sure if it was different there might have been a different response. But everything's worked out all right."