"All the tests they do on the calf to see if it's okay, it just wasn't playing ball so it was hugely frustrating.
"It settled down a bit when we were batting and I was planning on bowling in the second innings, but when I was batting I pushed off for a run and it didn't feel right."
Anderson had been included in England's squad for the one-off Test against Ireland, before being ruled out before the final eleven had been picked. On that occasion, captain Joe Root had assured that the decision was no more than precautionary.
"Jimmy probably would have been able to get through this Test match, but we're just making sure that he's absolutely ready," Root said before that game in July.
Anderson left the field after completing his fourth over of the Edgbaston Test
Anderson had made a hugely promising start to the season, with the focus on the World Cup allowing him to lead Lancashire's seam attack in the County Championship. He took 30 wickets in the six games he played at an average of just 9.37 before his calf problem flared up.
He insists, however, that he was ready for the beginning of England's Ashes campaign, having done all that was medically asked of him in the build-up.
Anderson said: "There's nothing else we could have done. I did all the rehab - the only thing I didn't do was play a match but there's Twenty20 going on at the minute and there's no games to play.
"I'm sure if I do manage to come back in this series then I'll have to play some sort of cricket beforehand.
"You feel lots of guilt [and you're] generally frustrated but you're trying to help out the lads as much as possible without making them feel worse."
To celebrate England winning the World Cup you can subscribe to The Cricketer for just £20.19. Click here to learn more
