It’s always funny when it happens to someone else, but a “sickening sound” confirmed Alastair Cook’s agony was nothing to giggle about in the Ashes opener.

There were howls of laughter from teammate Joe Root, commentators and countless others in Cardiff when Cook was struck on the groin on Thursday.

“I saw it pretty clearly actually. I was trying not to laugh,” Chris Rogers said.

“Particularly when I saw Joe Root laugh I thought – oh, he’s ok.

“But apparently it was a sickening sound, so we’ll leave it at that.”

Cook was off the field for the better part of an hour receiving treatment.

Steve Smith scored 33, but needed only three balls to strike a major blow against Cook.

It had nothing to do with the scoreboard.

Cook was fielding at first slip when a thick edge flew off the bat, fizzed off the turf and brought him down.

England’s captain doubled over with pain, writhed on the ground and took a few minutes to get to his feet.

Cook initially held a thumbs up the crowd, but left the field during the next over.

“He’s good. He was obviously a little worried at first, but he’s alright now,” England allrounder Moeen Ali said.