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The first delivery of a contest represents far more rather than just a single delivery.

It represents a nerve-wracking two to four seconds of sheer excitement, when every bit of pre-series hype finally ends.

"To define that tone throughout the whole series would be really special," commented English paceman Gus Atkinson after asked regarding the prospect recently.

"I'm aware history shows several historic opening-delivery occasions during Ashes history. The opportunity to contribute that history would be incredible."

As the bowler notes, the opening ball has created many of the most historic Ashes moments - events that seemed to establish the storyline and at least became easy to look back on in hindsight...

Cummins Driving Past the Covers

Zak Crawley had spent the lead-up for the 2023 Ashes planning striking the first ball to four runs - regarding hoping to "deliver a message."

Australian captain Pat Cummins approached at the pavilion end when Crawley cracked a shot past cover field amid roaring cheers by English fans.

"I've long remained a huge admirer of the first ball in the Ashes," Crawley revealed.

"I was watching them from youth and I realized a couple weeks before if if we won the toss there would be a good opportunity to receiving that ball."

"I chatted to Brooky about it while we were playing golf on course - saying it would be cool should I strike that first ball away to make an impact."

The English may not have claimed the contest - and the Australians thrillingly won that first match on last day - but it proved a hint of the way Stokes' team planned to attack throughout the series.

Burns & England Bowled Over

This occasion in Birmingham proved one of rare first salvos to go the way of England, however.

Much more frequently they have been telling indicators regarding the Australian superiority that would be ahead.

On 2021's series, Mitchell Starc dismissed English opener Rory Burns with a leg-stump full delivery at the Gabba to become the initial bowler to take a dismissal on the opening delivery in an Ashes series after Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick in the 1930s.

England's build-up was poor and at that instant during Australian celebration the tourists took a blow to the stomach.

"My emotion just dropped to the floor," recalled bowler Stuart Broad, who was observing in the dressing room.

"We had worked toward this series and bang, first ball, he's out."

The series were lost within eleven additional days while Australia won the series four-nil.

Slater's Statement Delivery

It is also no surprise an Australian skipper who reveled in "psychological warfare" thought proceedings were set through a similar incident twenty-seven before.

Steve Waugh with the Australians aimed for their fourth Ashes win in a row when batsman Michael Slater began 1994's contest by decisively hitting England bowler Phil DeFreitas to boundary through backward point.

"It felt as if 'alright team here we go again we have got them already'," recalled the captain, who'd play every Tests during three-one home win.

"In our minds it was as if we are dominant already so we should keep pressing on. We know how to beat these guys."

Ominous.

Harmison's Horror Wide

However suppose the first ball is just that - one among ten thousand or so to start the series?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison bowled to start the 2006-07 Ashes - where he sent the ball toward the grasp of skipper Andrew Flintoff in second slip, almost avoiding the pitch in the process - proved the most iconic Ashes opener ever.

"I froze," Harmison explained media shortly afterwards.

"I allowed the enormity of the moment affect me. It all felt so alien for me. My whole body was nervous."

"I could not get my grip from being sweaty. The first ball slipped from my hands, the second did as well, then, following that, I possessed no control, zero."

England claimed 2005's series 15 before but were resoundingly beaten five-nil. Many contend that Ashes ended in that exact instant.

"We simply weren't good enough to beat