🔗 Share this article

The opening ball of a contest is far more rather than just one delivery.

It signifies an gut-wrenching two or three seconds of sheer theatre, where every bit of the pre-series discussion finally ceases.

"To establish that tone for the entire contest would be truly remarkable," stated English bowler Gus Atkinson when questioned about this prospect lately.

"I'm aware there have been numerous iconic first-ball moments in Ashes cricket history. The chance to join that history seems amazing."

Like Atkinson observes, the opening ball has created many of the truly historic cricket occasions - events that seemed to set the storyline and at least became easy to reflect upon in hindsight...

Cummins Smashing Through the Covers

Zak Crawley had spent the preparation for the 2023 Ashes series contemplating hitting the first ball to four runs - about aiming to "make an impact."

Australia skipper Pat Cummins charged in from the pavilion end and Crawley cracked a drive through cover field amid roaring roars by English supporters.

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

"I was following them since growing up so I realized several weeks out if if we won coin toss there would be a good possibility to receiving it."

"I chatted with Brooky about this while we played playing golf in Scotland - that it would be amazing should I strike that first ball away and make an impact."

The English didn't won the series - while Australia thrillingly won the opening match during the final day - but it was a preview of how Ben Stokes' team planned to play aggressively throughout the series.

Burns and England Bowled Over

This moment in Birmingham remains among rare opening deliveries that went the way of the English, though.

Significantly more often they have been ominous signs regarding the Australian dominance that was to come.

During the 2021-22 series, Mitchell Starc bowled England opener Rory Burns via a leg-stump half-volley at Brisbane becoming the first bowler to take a dismissal on the opening delivery in a series after Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick in the 1930s.

The English preparation was poor and in that point of Aussie elation England took a punch to the stomach.

"My confidence just fell dramatically," said paceman Stuart Broad, who was watching in the dressing room.

"We had built toward these matches then immediately, first ball, he is out."

The Ashes were lost in 11 more days and Australia claimed the series four-nil.

The Opener's Impact Shot

It's also no surprise an Australian captain who thrived on "mental disintegration" believed events were set by an identical moment 27 years earlier.

Steve Waugh with the Australians were seeking their fourth Ashes win consecutively when opener Michael Slater started the 1994-95 contest with decisively crunching English bowler Phil DeFreitas to boundary past the offside.

"It was as if 'alright team we're off again we have got them now'," said the captain, who would feature every Tests during a 3-1 home victory.

"Psychologically it felt like we're on top now and we should keep pressing on. We know how to beat these guys."

Ominous.

Harmison's Horror Wide

But what if that ball proves just that - one in 10,000 or more beginning the contest?

The wide Steve Harmison bowled to start 2006's series - where he bowled the delivery toward the hands of captain Andrew Flintoff in the slips, nearly missing the pitch in the process - proved the most iconic Ashes opener in history.

"I froze," the bowler told media soon afterwards.

"I allowed the significance of the moment affect me. Everything seemed so alien for me. My entire body felt tense."

"I could not get my hands to stop sweating. That initial delivery flew from my grasp, the next also slipped, and, following that, I had no rhythm, nothing."

The English claimed 2005's series 15 before but were resoundingly defeated 5-0. Some argue those Ashes were lost in that very moment.

"We simply weren't skilled enough to defeat