Considering Moeen Ali’s normal workload over the last two years has been to bowl four overs a match, no wonder he was not as sprightly as normal when leaving the Edgbaston field.
But after 29 overs of hard graft, Moeen still had the energy to remove his cap and acknowledge the appreciation that saluted his efforts.
It was not quite the storybook return to Test bowling that Ben Stokes and the nation had hoped for but there was enough evidence to suggest the script could still have a dreamy ending.
In fact, there was enough evidence in one single delivery - a ball that turned square, fizzed through a gate left by Cameron Green and sent one of the world’s most dangerous all-rounders back to the hutch.
That Moeen should have had Green out second ball - when Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping sitter - only gave the ripper more significance.
Having taken his first Test wicket in 650 days moments earlier - Travis Head holing out to Zak Crawley - Bairstow’s miss off Moeen was particularly galling but at the end of the over, the bowler waited for his wicketkeeper and gave him a pat of consolation.
Moeen, one of the nicest men in cricket. Many have said he was too nice for Ashes battles that have carried more than a bit of needle but this series could be a bit different.
What have you made of Moeen Ali's display so far? Have your say in the comments section
Nothing we have seen over the opening two days suggests the behaviour will cross any boundaries. When Head smashed a half-volley into Ollie Pope’s arm, the Australian batsman was quick to check on the fielder’s well-being.
This looks set to be a contest fought in good spirit and that will suit Moeen.
And what will also suit him is the trust and faith shown in him by Stokes.
Make no mistake, for all the talk of Bazball and England’s brave new world, there is every chance spin could be the most decisive factor in the outcome of this series.
And, even now, probably only a patriot and/or romanticist would have Moeen trumping Nathan Lyon.
The Australians certainly see him as a target and why wouldn’t they?
Of course, the reason why Head was Moeen’s first wicket in such a stretch was that he has been retired from this format for two years.
But even before then, he was hardly a scourge of the old enemy.
Coming into this match, the 35-year-old had taken 20 Ashes wickets at a cost of over 64 runs apiece.
Even the man himself thought Stokes was “joking” when he got the call following the injury to Jack Leach.
As his offerings disappeared to the boundary with predictable regularity, he might have wished Stokes had been calling in jest.
In fairness, taking wickets on this Edgbaston track is an arduous task.
Stuart Broad surely gets to keep David Warner after again getting rid of him but it was an abysmal shot from the opener, dragging a wide one on to his stumps.
Next ball, Broad came up with a decent one - and Bairstow with a blinding catch - to remove Marnus Labuschagne and Stokes squared Steve Smith up nicely.
And Moeen’s first wicket was mainly down to blood rushing to Head.
But his second was an absolute beauty.
He got some tap, that is for sure, and those figures at the close of play will hardly jump out of the historical scorebooks.
And that he has a key role in this match only highlights the doubts surrounding this England attack.
With Usman Khawaja still there on a magnificent 126, the Australians will fancy building a decent lead on the third day but they will have to bat last on a pitch that will take more and more turn.
And if England can defy the threat of Lyons in the second innings, it could all come down to Moeen.
The storybook return could still be on.
